UAE | Environment
Readers fear about shark's future
It has been 35 days and counting but there is still one less whale shark in the ocean.
- By Sanya Nayeem, Community Journalist
- Published: 23:29 October 11, 2008
- Image Credit: Gulf News
- Sammy's plight has touched the youngest of Dubai's residents as well who join the campaign for its release.
Dubai: It has been 35 days and counting but there is still one less whale shark in the ocean. Growing concern among Gulf News readers has them all asking the same question - will Sammy the Shark ever swim to freedom?
Sofiane Boufas, an Algerian expatriate, was optimistic. He "I have heard of such incidents happening occasionally in places such as Canada. However, once the animals are treated, they are usually returned to their natural habitat and that is how it is supposed to be," said.
According to Fiona Mindonca, a Dubai resident, sharks and whales cannot be domesticated or treated as other animals. "Sammy should be swimming in the direction of the sea, instead of going around in circles in a tank," she said.
The issue is becoming more serious with the passing of time, as concerns about Sammy's future keep readers on tenterhooks.
Mohammad Ebrahim, a Pakistani expatriate, said: "Right now, Sammy is a baby and is just about 13 feet long. When she grows up to be the size of a school bus, with physiological needs and a predator's appetite. How can it possibly remain in the aquarium?"
He questioned the experience of medical professionals handling the 'vulnerable' species of fish at the Atlantis. Ebrahim added: "Personally, I do not think the shark can be well taken care of in a tank, simply because it is not her real home."
For Chris, a Gulf News reader, the fact that "one of the rarest creatures on the planet" is in captivity, was hard to digest. In his comment on gulfnews.com, he said: "I have been an active diver for over 14 years in many places around the world, but I have never seen a whale shark in the wild. Sammy must be released, so that future generations of the same species can exist."
According to David Pereira, a Dubai resident, Sammy should have been set free a long time ago. "If released too late, it may not be able to settle in its natural habitat and learn to hunt," he said.
More from UAE Environment
More from UAE
Latest news
- Dubai Police to public: Help identify dead man
- Chance of fault on Metro: One per 4 million kms
- Al Ain Zoo launches evening visiting hours
- Emirati students not ready for university
- Recycled gravel to be used for paving roads
- UAE Interact available on smartphones
- Green ambassadors blaze the nature trail
- UAE, UK explore joint cooperation in education
- Dubai Police help foil cocaine smuggling bid
- Carpenter charged with killing friend
- Job scam victim clears name
- Dubai crime, accident rates drop
- Parents should be more vigilant
- ICT forum: What will the future look like?
- Huge rush at ID centres as deadline looms
Community Reports
-
Parents should be more vigilant
Reader's picture highlights risk of negligence by caretakers
-
Warming up to ‘Mobilise the Earth' theme
Dubai school dedicates a whole week to celebrating Earth Day with can-collection drives, sapling plantation and painting competition among others
-
Drivers using mobiles put others' lives at risk
Speeding is dangerous for the driver and other motorists
-
Supporting the needy with food supplies
Group of families engaged in serving isolated labour community hopes to motivate more people to help underprivileged and hungry
