Whale shark to be displayed at PMNH soon
This was the second biggest specimen to have landed at the Karachi coast after almost 65 years.
ISLAMABAD:
The 42-feet long Whale Shark, which was caught in February in the Gora Bari area of Karachi, will soon be displayed at the Pakistan Museum of Natural History (PMNH).
The long-term preservation of the fish is under process, after which it will be displayed for the general public as an icon of biodiversity.
The tissues of all the organs of the specimen have been preserved for any laboratory analysis in the future and for accurate age determination of the specimen.
It is being preserved at the PMNH as this is the second biggest specimen to have landed at the Karachi coast after almost 65 years.
Talking to APP, Director Zoological Department PMNH Dr Muhammad Rafique said, “It was our moral duty to save this unique creature for the benefit of our researchers, students and the general public.”
The whale shark is considered to be the biggest fish in the world. It is a rare species and is declared vulnerable as its population is decreasing at an alarming rate.
Rafique said that it is being commercially exploited, as the fish has high value in the international trade.
Giving details, he said that this whale shark has a length of 42 feet and weighs 16 tonnes, while its liver weighed about 800kg.
The weight of its stomach was about 600kg, the ovary had a weight of 120kg and had about 1500 eggs, he added.
“Our focus is to preserve this unique specimen and display it in the Museum shortly, for future research and for education.”
The 42-feet long Whale Shark, which was caught in February in the Gora Bari area of Karachi, will soon be displayed at the Pakistan Museum of Natural History (PMNH).
The long-term preservation of the fish is under process, after which it will be displayed for the general public as an icon of biodiversity.
The tissues of all the organs of the specimen have been preserved for any laboratory analysis in the future and for accurate age determination of the specimen.
It is being preserved at the PMNH as this is the second biggest specimen to have landed at the Karachi coast after almost 65 years.
Talking to APP, Director Zoological Department PMNH Dr Muhammad Rafique said, “It was our moral duty to save this unique creature for the benefit of our researchers, students and the general public.”
The whale shark is considered to be the biggest fish in the world. It is a rare species and is declared vulnerable as its population is decreasing at an alarming rate.
Rafique said that it is being commercially exploited, as the fish has high value in the international trade.
Giving details, he said that this whale shark has a length of 42 feet and weighs 16 tonnes, while its liver weighed about 800kg.
The weight of its stomach was about 600kg, the ovary had a weight of 120kg and had about 1500 eggs, he added.
“Our focus is to preserve this unique specimen and display it in the Museum shortly, for future research and for education.”