The dead whale shark.
KOTA KINABALU: A whale shark, found trapped in fishing nets in waters off Kota Belud, died on Sunday morning as villagers from Kampung Tituru Laut and nearby resort workers toiled hard to save the huge sea creature.
The seven-metre whale shark died while still being trapped in the fishing nets close to the shore of Kampung Tituru Laut, about 90km from the state capital here.
Fishermen from the fishing village towed the whale shark with the help of four boats before using a tractor to take it to its burial site about a kilometre away.
Manana Borneo Resort operator Sofian Abdul Aziz said yesterday that the whale shark was discovered around 8.30am on Sunday and could have died soon after.
“We tried to get help from the Fisheries Department but they did not come,’’ he said, adding that he had to call Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun for assistance.
The Wildlife Rescue Unit under the ministry arrived on Tuesday but the carcass had already been buried by villagers as it was beginning to rot.
According to Sofian, whale sharks are a common sight in the area between February and May and he is not discounting the possibility that the whale shark may have been in the throes of death and was heading towards the shore to pass away.
“The fishermen told us that it was still alive in the nets but seemed to have died after a while,’’ he added.