Another 6-Metre Whale Shark Found Stranded and Dead on Cilacap Beach

A whale shark (Rhincodon typus) was found stranded on Cemara Sewu Beach in Bunton Village, Adipala District, Cilacap Regency, Central Java, on Monday morning. The protected marine animal was discovered alive by a local conservationist but died approximately one hour later.

Jumawan, a marine conservation activist in Cilacap, received a report from residents around 6.30 a.m. Western Indonesia Time, shortly after he had finished a routine patrol along the coast. Upon arriving at the location, he observed the large fish was still breathing, with its mouth open and gills moving, but it died soon afterwards.

Initial observations indicated the whale shark measured between five and six metres in length and weighed an estimated 1.2 tonnes. Field officers also noted a physical abnormality on the upper part of its body, specifically old scars or parasite marks on its head.

Regarding the cause of the stranding, Jumadi suspects the shark may have ventured too close to shore while hunting for food and became trapped by the receding tide. He also highlighted the possible impact of human activity, particularly the use of high-intensity lights by fishermen searching for lobster seeds at night, which may have disrupted the shark’s natural navigation system.

A team from the relevant authorities, along with veterinary personnel, has been deployed to the site to perform a necropsy and further examinations to ascertain the primary cause of death. This incident adds to a growing number of marine mammal strandings along the southern coast of Java, following the deaths of two other whale sharks in the same waters the previous month.