2010/06/30
GONUBIE Beach was closed for swimming yesterday amid fears that the carcass of an 8metre- long whale shark washed up on the rocks would attract dangerous sharks.
Buffalo City Municipality said the beach would remain closed today.
Holidaymakers went close to examine the dead male whale shark at Gonubie Point.
It was the third time in six years that a whale shark has washed up along the East London coast.
East London Aquarium chief Siani Tinley could not say how it died: “ Disease, injury, lack of food source and the weeks of very cold water we have been having are some of the possible reasons .”
She said the whale shark was a harmless plankton feeder common to KwaZulu-Natal North.
“They have really small teeth and feed by swimming on the surface with their mouths open and filtering small fish and plankton, or krill.
“They are very docile animals and are known to allow divers to swim with them in the water.”
Yesterday, Marine Services officials started cutting it up and removing it from the rocks. “It will be disposed of at a landfill site,” said Tinley. “We will keep the Gonubie beach and surfing areas closed for swimming for today as the death and removal of the whale (will result) in a possibility of attracting other sharks to the area.”
Among the onlookers, Kobus Snyman said he was taking his usual morning walk yesterday when he saw the monster. “It is the first time in five years I’ve lived here I’ve seen a dead whale lying on the rocks,” he said.
Megan Clarke said she received a call from her husband Richard in the morning saying she should take the children to see the creature.
“This is really incredible … I’ve also told my friend Jolene Wertlen to bring her children.”
Wertlen said it was also the first time she’d seen a dead whale shark. - By MSINDISI FENGU— msindisif@dispatch.co.za
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