“Ofek,” the whale shark, died off the coast of Gaza on Friday, according to the environmental conservation organization Sharks in Israel.
He was likely hunted by fishermen from the Gaza Strip or washed ashore.
“Ofek,” named by the conservation organization, was filmed with crowds of Palestinians crowding around it in the area of Khan Yunis, being dragged along the shore by ropes. In Gaza, it was reported that the “largest fish in the world” is about ten meters long.
The whale shark had previously been spotted off the coasts of Ashdod, Ashkelon, Netanya, Bat Yam, Tel Aviv, and other areas along the Mediterranean coastline.
A Gaza resident said, according to Ynet, “For two years Israel did not allow us to fish - and today, when it was allowed, we managed to catch a fish weighing several tons."
Whale shark classified as endangered species
Whale sharks were first identified in April 1829, after one was caught in a South African bay. It has been seen several times in the Gulf of Eilat. The species was officially recorded in 1849 by zoologist Andrew Smith.
The species is a shark the size of a whale, with an eating technique similar to that of a whale. It is classified as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Its size ranges from 12 to 14 meters long, and it can reach a lifespan of over 100 years.
“His story is primarily a sad one. He brought us joy for several weeks, kept beach managers on their toes, and reminded us that there’s still much to learn and understand in the Mediterranean,” Sharks in Israel said in a statement.
“This case also highlights how crucial species protection is here. While nature conservation for cartilaginous fish isn’t always a priority elsewhere, today we are an important and protected point in their migratory routes.
“We will continue to explain, share knowledge, and create regional collaborations. Because sharks have no borders. Only the sea,” the organization concluded.