Nine-Meter Whale Shark Carcass Evacuated in Wakatobi
- 28 Sep 2026 15:34 WIB
- Voice of Indonesia
Poin Utama
- A nine-meter whale shark weighing around five tons died after becoming stranded in shallow waters off Matahora Village, Wakatobi.
- A joint team moved the carcass about 700 meters away from residential areas to reduce environmental and health risks.
RRI.CO.ID, Kendari - A joint response team spearheaded by the Wakatobi National Park Office (BTNW) has evacuated the carcass of a nine-meter whale shark (Rhincodon typus) after the endangered marine mammal stranded in shallow waters off Matahora Village, South Wangi-Wangi Subdistrict, Wakatobi Regency, Southeast Sulawesi.
Local residents first spotted the stranded giant, estimated to weigh around five metric tons, prompting immediate coordination between conservation officials, local government agencies, TNI/Polri officers, diving communities, and conservation partners including the Nusantara Nature Conservation Foundation (YKAN) and WWF Indonesia.
"The response to this stranded whale shark is the result of multi-stakeholder collaboration. We express our appreciation for the support and involvement of all parties who worked together to handle this event," said Head of the Wakatobi National Park Office, La Ode Ahyar Thamrin Mufti, on Monday, September 28.
Despite immediate emergency efforts, severe environmental conditions prevented a successful rescue. Extremely shallow water levels, vast distances to deep ocean zones, and unfavorable tidal shifts severely hindered evacuation attempts, ultimately leading to the animal's death at the site.
Following technical and environmental assessments, the joint team towed the five-ton carcass roughly 700 meters away from its initial position to a designated location further from residential settlements to mitigate environmental impacts and health hazards for nearby villagers.
Director of Species and Genetic Conservation at the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), Sarminto Hadi, commended the quick response of the combined field teams, emphasizing that coordinated action remains crucial for marine conservation emergencies.
Echoing this sentiment, Matahora Village Head Saharuni noted that local residents actively assisted throughout the operation, reflecting the community's deep commitment to ocean stewardship. YKAN Senior Marine Protection Manager Yusuf Fajariyanto added that the incident highlights the urgent need for enhanced evacuation equipment, field preparedness, and long-term multi-stakeholder commitment to safeguard Wakatobi's marine ecosystems. ***
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