YEONGDEOK, Sept. 26 (Korea Bizwire) – Responding to a call at 6:45 a.m., officers of the Pohang Maritime Police Agency rushed to Ohpo Beach to help a stranded whale shark return to the water.
The whale shark was 3.20 meters long and a girth of around 2 meters wide. Despite some small scars around its mouth, the animal exhibited no other signs of injury.
With the help of local civilians, the maritime police officers pushed the whale shark back into the ocean.
The whale shark is considered an endangered species . It is known to live either alone or in groups.
A whale shark expert at the National Institute of Fisheries Science said that the animal may have come near the east coast in search of food. The expert also stated that due to changes in ocean temperature, there are frequent sightings around Jeju Island.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)