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Subscribe to RSSRemember the shark the size of a school bus that starred on PhotoBlog Tuesday? Well, it's back... and it's causing a stir.
Fareed Khan / AP
Visitors surround the carcass of a whale shark in Karachi, Pakistan, on Feb 9, 2012. People crowded around to put their hands on the massive shark, and families snapped their picture with it — ignoring the pungent smell as it began to rot.
Ashraf Khan of The Associated Press takes up the story:
KARACHI, Pakistan — Qasim Khan waged the unlikeliest of battles with Pakistani authorities Thursday over the right to charge hundreds of curious visitors 20 rupees (22 cents) each to see a roughly 40-foot whale shark he bought from a fisherman.
Khan is in the business of buying fish, albeit usually much smaller ones, and jumped at the chance on Tuesday to pay about $2,200 for the 20-ton behemoth, which was discovered dead in the Arabian Sea off the southern Pakistani city of Karachi.
Business was brisk Wednesday, as several thousand people paid to see the brown and white-spotted shark, which Khan set up under a cloth tent next to the harbor.
But police cracked down Thursday, saying fishery authorities had decided people should be allowed to see the shark for free. Khan resisted and hid his prize attraction under the giant piece of green cloth he had previously used as a tent.
Fareed Khan / AP
A boy peeks inside a tent where the carcass was being kept. One visitor, 9-year-old Fizza Umar, said "It was so huge! I wish I could take it home."
Shakil Adil / AP
A man sells tickets to people eager to see the shark.
The move sparked a comic game of cat and mouse between Khan and the police. They would order him to remove the cover, which he would do briefly before replacing it. Then the cycle would start over again.
Khan countered by saying he paid 200,000 rupees for it. "To recover my cost I am charging just 20 rupees per ticket, but the forsaken fishery authorities have deprived me of this fortune," he said. Read the full story.
Fareed Khan / AP
Some in the crowd were upset to see people climbing all over the shark. "This is sheer disrespect for animals," said 20-year-old nursing student Usman Zada.
Leave a Comment:
life must be great when your biggest form of income/entertainment is a giant rotting fish. I only hope that thing really did die before the fishermen got it...
No wonder these people live in 3rd squalor. Entertainment is a rotting fish, and someone bought it for $2200 thinking they could sell viewings to the spectacle. No wonder the Taliban is taking over.
Is it any different than watching a bunch of morons throw an inflated pig skin around? It's just a different culture. And yes, I love football. :)
Is it any different than a dozen people watch another Texan get the injection on death-row?
OH wait! yes i guess it is...............
Sort of like the people of Walmart website.
See what happens when the government interferes with free enterprise?
Rotting giant shark as entertainment? America, as a "1st world" country, would never be entertained by something so low. Right, Jersey Shore? Kardshians? The Bachelor? Toddlers & Tiaras? America's Next Top Overrated Exploitation?
That's it,!
I'm moving to a new planet!!!
This one just waaaaay too many dead fish!!!
oops, I'm sorry just one big one.
Fish fry anybody?
The guy taking a pic of the shark while standing on it with a camera phone cracks me up..Probably not National Geographic quality///??? LOL
What a waste... if they were really poor they would have used the shark as food BEFORE it spoiled.
We're gonna need a bigger boat.
I am so very sorry that this beautiful creature is being treated this way. It wasn't bad enough that it lost its life just because it wanted some food, but to be treated with such disrespect in death is disgraceful.
I wouldn't pay 22 cents to view Snooki's rotting arse.
I wonder how much it is going to cost the fisherman when the shark guts explode all over the street like that whale in Taiwan did. Eeew! Iick! Barfola gross! Its just a matter of hours now.....
Would not want to be standing on it when that happens!
and to think, these cats have the bomb...
I understand that UGG is buying the carcass so they can make some really cool, stinky boots out of it, and then sell the rest of the meat back to the Pakistani's.
Give that carcass another week and everything within a mile will reek! But I still bet they eat it!
They can make a line of Snooky hand bags, all the girls will want one so they too can smell like Snooky.
LMAO, 3rd world $hitholes are funny.
Some of these comments just reek of our American superiority complex. I'm w/ the guy who reminded folks that they watch Jersey Shore, etc. Have some respect for other peoples and get a reality check. I live at the beach and when a whale beaches itself plenty of American spectators come to take a peek - some are carrying TV camera equipment. So yeah, it would make the news here too.
I wonder how they could distinguish between the rotting smell of the whale and the regular stench of their country.
Maybe Rahm "Deadfish" Emanual could find a use for this thing.
Really....... How is this any different then going to the zoo? We transport live animals from far off places, keep them is questionable cages, so people can see what this world has to offer. At least this isn't aware that it is not in its normal habitat.
This shark is a Whale Shark that wasn't caught by line and hook. It was probably netted and should have been released but the idiots in Pakistan (that's right folks, IDIOTS) wanted to make headlines and wanted to profit from it. They aren't going to eat it and it's probably starting to stink right about now. I think the authorities show arrest the captain of the fishing boat that netted it and arrest this guy who bought it from him. Does everyone get it now? Pakistan, that's right.
TO REPUBLIC :
Today's NFL football is made from cow hide and has been for decades. Early soccer (or maybe rugby) balls were made from inflated pig bladders. Apparently, the name stuck, and everyone from pee-wee players to blustery broadcasters now calls footballs "pigskins".
Please learn facts before spouting off your ignorance to others. It saves you from looking like an idiot.
There is no evidence that the whale had been netted therefore nobody could be arrested. The story says the claim is the whale was found dead. If this is true I wouldn't eat it not knowing why it died. It probably a good guess it was netted though.
Don't forget Jerry Springer, Maury, and to share amongst the sexes, The Bachelorette...and most other "reality" shows...
It would definitely be more entertaining to watch a whale rot than to watch the Kardashians.
Ain't it a shame that the fisherman was NOT American?
Why are they all wearing pajamas?
James Dashwan,
you are calling other peolpe cats!
I wonder why others people may call you 'monkey'.
Who calls a football a cowhide?
And i thought i was just smelling my ex-wife this whole time 0.o
Patriotism!! You should hear what they say about us....
It's a fish or maybe a whale, maybe someone will confirm. It just happens to be big. According to the story it was found in the water - dead. Lost it's life just because it wanted some food? Please. People who fish just want some food also. Do you think you are better because you buy yours instead of catch your own? Sound like a vegan. What are you going to do when you find out that plants have feelings, think, make plans, have families, and before long, rights!
Time for a big breakfast steak and some eggs.
I wouldn't pay 22 cents to view Snooki's rotting arse.
Or Kim Kardashian's!!!!! On second thought, if the government where to take over the show and charge for viewing Snooki's or Kim's posterior by the pound we could retire the national debt in a matter of days!!!
And no Liberals, you can't blame the death of the shark on Bush!!!
I bet that fishing boat had a h'ell of a time towing that to the dock........40' is probably about the size of the fishing vessel!!
...plus how did he get it into the street from the water? And it must have tied up traffic in the middle of the street and the Police only wanted him to not charge a fee to look at it?
Behold, the arrogant, ignorant Americans. We speak of other people like we are a superior species. We degrade others as if we are so far above them that they are merely here for our entertainment.
Perhaps this is why they take our billions in foreign aid and still look at us like walking piles of @!$%#. You folks are too stupid, yet too high minded at the same time to realize that Americans would also pay to see a shark that big. The only difference is instead of 22 cents each we would spend a couple of dollars each to see it.
Yes, while we are crying about no jobs and foreclosed homes and a dismal future (all true, by the way), we wasted millions of dollars running to see the newest FAKE vampire movie. We spend our money using the electricity and cable contracts to watch lame TV shows like "Fear Factor". Yeah, there is a monument to our moral superiority.
We used to be a nation that took pride in our hard work, our factory production and our moral values. Now the only way we feel better is by putting someone else done. Okay you hypocritical losers, I'm done.
However, before I get collapsed and probably suspended for calling other posters names, read through the comments and see what the subjects of this story have been called by the very insulters we are not supposed to insult. If you have a problem with the Pakistani politics, which I do, attack them for that but do not attack them or degrade them as if we are some god-people, risen high above them and immune to curiosities toward things like a 40 foot shark.
@capecodmom, my hats off to ya. You are sooooooooo on the money.
Hilarious!!! This whole thing is hilarious!!! Thanks for your comment, doyourhomework,America!--I hadn't thought of this scenario like this and you cracked me up!!! Sincere thanks! :)
Mabye they should try dynamite to get rid of it when the stench get too bad... Wait, thats been tried before. Look it up!! Search dynamite and whale in Youtube.
It probably wasn't that big when it was alive, it's just bloated and getting ready to explode.....
What a pompous a$s...
Fred4Congress, you hit the"nail on the head"!
And SurroundedbyFools, you apparently hit your head on the nail.
Typical "liberal" mindset by the police. "Where is your business license? Do you have a permit to exhibit this shark? Did you pay the taxes to even own this shark?... etc., etc. They were no doubt jealous that this man had the vision to make a more comfortable living than they have by sharing such a rare sight with those in his village who probably don't go more than a dozen or so kilometers from their homes during their whole lifetime. No doubt they (police) were NOT going to allow him to earn a higher wage than they made as cops... lol. NO SOUP FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If that whale shark had been in a net there would be chafe marks and net and rope burns all over it! For anyone who knows what they are looking at its obvious this thing was not caught in a net. Netted fish don't just roll over and die...they fight like hell to free themselves and are scared and skin burnt horribly as a result. Its much more likely the story of finding it floating is 100 percent true.
And so what if they hauled it in as a curiosity and are making some money from it? You really think that if it wouldn't cause some monumental uproar in this country...if some fisherman found it floating off of Jersey and hauled it in....that every damn person who heard about it from New york to Philly wouldn't be doing the same damn thing? Please! To act as if this morbid curiosity over a dead Leviathan is some debased third world mentality that Americans are immune to is complete bullsh;;;t!
It is a dead fish. it is not a donky or an elephant so it has no political leanings. It is not a perfect opportunity for me to badmouth America (from America by the way). It is a dead fish.
I can see how people would think Kardashian or Snookie though It does have a nose like a Kardashian and I heard that Snookie has a sea shell tatooed on her inner thigh. If you put your ear against it, you can smell the ocean.
I do feel a little cheated as an American. I paid 50 cents at the fair to see a 22 foot Great White in a freezer. It does have big teeth and a Whale Shark does not, but they are getting over twice the dead fish for less than half price.
For the people who say they should have eaten it. it is a deep water filter feeding fish. However it died, it sat down there till the gasses in it's flesh made it bouyant. It was already rotten when it floated to the surface. The only people in the world who might eat it are American, Eskimos in Alaska eat some nasty rotten food. Nobody else could do it without getting sick.
ibrahim-1017693 you need to know a few things before you say stuff tha it's racist, a cat is a person that was unconventional person from the 1920's that wanted to do their own thing in life and not act like their parents. Basically someone who is revolutionary and changes the way everybody lives
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=cat
These fishermen literally just dragged the carcass out of the water and left it on the docks in the blazing sun. I wonder if this Kahn guy is going to be so anxious to clean up the mess once it decays to the point of being unapproachable.
It's Pakistan...do you think anyone will REALLY notice the difference in the smell?
Clean up will consist of dumping the carcass back into the bay.
Talk about adding insult to injury! Throwing it back into that water!
$2200 for a dead, rotting fish? The economy must be booming in Pakistan.
Steak anyone?
eat more possom!
I would've thought he would display it for a couple of days then chop it up and sell it. Spoiled seafood is considered edible there but even they have their threshold for how old and walked-on it can be before it's not dinner.
Walking on it makes the juices flow. its better then marinade.
In the original story they said he spent (200,000 Rupees) which I think is roughly $18000.00 if I'm correct. Mean while this guy's kids scouring for food from a garbage dump. that would explain why this country has money to build nuclear weapons but can't feed it's people. Thank god for cigarettes and Hookas.
wow this is crazy....their having their kids playing on a dead shark....don't they know they can catch a disease from that thing....smh
What disease? Invertebrates don't carry diseases that can infect mammals, Prettylove.
3 deleted, Unferth writing about 'stinking Pakkis'. Don't smear everyone in a nationality. You're suspended for a day for violating #5 of the Code of Honor.
Actually over there, they eat pretty fresh fish not the old frozen seafood of ours. although they have pretty good natural beauty and historical places not like in US, where even a small mountain will become a tourist resort because it has a name and some sign boards around it - so pathetic.
I'm sure there are plenty of bacteria growing on the surface of the carcus by now, and I wouldn't want to have an open sore or something and touch it for sure. It really isn't a very good hygene lesson to teach your kids.
While I can't answer to the spread of diseases between fish and mammals, I do have to point out that a whale shark is not an invertebrate. Invertebrates have no spine, and sharks definitely have a spine. Anything that has a skeleton (even ones made of cartilage) has a spine. Invertebrates are creatures like jellyfish, clams, lobsters, etc.
Ok, so first of all, reporter needs to do their womework, a Whale Shark is a fish, not a shark, Its a filter feeder, not a predator. I know shark sounds cooler, but seroiusly, get the facts striaght. Second, I agree that using the fish for food rather that spectating would've, by far, been the better decision. I mean, holy cow people, dispose of that thing before you all get deathly ill!!!
Amazing, in the pic there seems to be only 1 person covering his nose, that thing outa gag a magit
A shark is a fish you moron. It's a whale shark. Thats like saying a bass isn't a bass its a fish!
And it IS a shark. Just because it doesn't chew on people doesn't change its genus. They don't call them "whale sharks" because it sounds cool...
Teresa B;
ALL sharks are fish. They do not surface to breathe, they have gills, Ergo, fish. The whale shark, classified as species (Rhinodon Typus) and Rhinodontidea. Absolutely ARE members of the broader shark family. Further evidence to this fact are it's full cartilage skeleton, distinctive number, structure and placement of fins and it's asymmetric vertical tail fluke. The fact that it is not classified a predator means nothing. It's anatomical and genetic structure is that of all classified shark species.
Not all sharks are predators, just as not all whales are filter feeders. Exiting outside the common conception of what a species should be, does not means it is not still a member of said species. Perhaps, a bit more homework on your part?
Teresa B
You just got pwned!!
These people are Muslim. Muslims and Jews don't eat carnivorous and omnivorous animals. Sharks are essentially carnivorous, even carrion eaters...a big no no in Islam and Judaism.
You Pauline Flock sure are watering at the mouth. Go ahead chomp away...eat all the unclean filth Paul wanted you to gorge on, and Moses, David, Jesus, and Muhammad eschewed.
@Hamzsque El Sid313!* just because they are carnivorous or omnivorous by classification doesn't mean much. 99.99999% of all fish will eat other dead or dieing fish! They are opportunists... it's not as kosher as you think! I'm sure everyone who comes to this page that has eaten fish, has eaten a fish who has nibbled on another dead fish and fish larvae!
Just by the nature of fish people of Islam and Judaism beliefs shouldn't consume fish!
I think the point here is and it's not a new concept, never eat fish you find sick or dead!
Dam it's not like he's getting rich off it pay $2200.00 for a dead fish and only charging $0.22 he needs to talk to D. Trump.
@whittemore you sir are the only idiot on this thread. did you even read the article or did just come to read the comments? "was probably netted and should have been released" THE SHARK WAS DEAD WHEN THEY FOUND IT. why the hell would you release a dead shark
I can't believe most of these posts on here...i really can't. This hypocritical and completely misrepresented air of American superiority is beyond friggin belief! As if we Americans are immune to curiosity and an opportunity to profit from it! Have any of these self righteous pro American, anti any other country but ours ever been to a friggin circus? No wonder so many other nations despise the thought of us! So many of these newsviners on here demonstrate all the reasons they do and should that its mind boggling!!
I wonder how many of these "third world haters" have even been out of the country? I doubt that its many...and 99 percent of them have formed these disturbing hate filled opinions of other countries and cultures based purely on hollywood,hate spouting political talk shows and complete narrow mindedness!
If these people are represenitive of the mindset of this country anymore we are in serious trouble!
What a piece of work is man . . . or a piece of something.
And THIS is the supposedly "intelligent species" on the planet.... which is why this poor planet is really SOL.
These people are seriously disgusting. Absolutely no sense of shame, class, or respect for nature. What a bunch of toothless, mouth-breathing hicks.
They have nuclear weapons you know. Scary, huh?
Yes, many of the people contributing to this post can be described that way.
What!!?!????!?!?!!?!?! Many contributors to this post have Nuclear weapons. I'll be nice from now on.
freight train are you reffering to the 6 billion people on earth? If so, I agree.
Why are you describing west virginians here? or yourself maybe?
The article says that many in the crowd thought it disrespectful that people were walking on the carcass. You make broad, sweeping statements that don't apply - and you know it.
I totally agree.. Disgusting people....I smell something .. And it's not the shark.. Peee Uuuuu..
May I bring to your attention the fact that Prettylove above believes that children can catch a disease from a dead whale shark?
I believe it was Forrest Gump who said, 'Stupid is as stupid does.' The toothless mouth-breathing hick doesn't fall far from the tree, does it?
@Navy Seal - As a West Virginian, I am offended at your unnecessary, bigoted comment. Most of the comments here are mildly offensive, but yours was just ... arggggggggh. How rude!
For those of you wondering what Khan paid for this creature in today's dollars, it's a fortune in their country:
INR 200,000.00 = $4040.00
http://www.xe.com/ucc/convert/?Amount=200000&From=INR&To=USD
Wrong Rupee. Try "Pakistan".
You two mean they are NOT up to your standard as these civilized people:
http://youtu.be/5dUWD-dmJfE
Or these:
Meat.org
Kettle calling the Pot...
Savage don't know they are the real savages!!!
No respect for human or animal life!
Well, humans and animals don't respect you ether!!!
The fish is dead, which means it is no longer alive. Suffice to say, there is no longer any life to respect within the rotting carcass of that whale shark.
Someone should snipe that kid walking on that animal....
Guess E Hall-1909469 post #6 was talking about you
Yes, let's kill a child for disrespecting a dead animal. You must be a PETA member.
9kman,
positrondave was probably just joking. At least I thought he was and LMFAO.
i agree!!!! hahaha
Na Don't hurt the kid just RPG the carcase.
Can't wait til one of those idiots get their arm stuck up to the shoulder in a rotting whale shark.
The man was allowed to purchase it, it is his property to do with as he sees fit. The Fishing Authority can't come back and demand it be exhibited for free, unless they want to refund the man his money.
If people are willing to pay 20 rupees to see it, then let them.
It is this very reason I love the free enterprise system in America.
Maybe so it he wants to display it on his own property. Doesn't seem that way though...the article isn't specific to that point, but if it's on public property then the local authorities should have the right to intervene.
However, let's look at the larger picture for just a moment. The number of people living in squalor in Pakistan is huge. A 6 ton fish would feed a lot of people. Seems to me he still could have made $ on from doing the right thing and selling it as food instead of a tourist attraction. What's even worse is the a-hole will probably leave it there to rot.
1. There is no free enterprise in Pakistan. It is effectively a military/oligarchy.
2. The rule of law is what the military says it is.
3. There is a difference between free enterprise and law of the jungle.
4. So the fishing authority can do what it wants, however it wants, and when ever it wants.
Diva, in America it would cost $10.00 to see it.
Ghandi was assassinated before he could unite free Pakistan and unite India with them. It's always interesting to see how many Americans assume there are freedoms in other countries such as we enjoy here.
So much is taken for granted by citizens in this country. So very much...and they aren't aware of it. Tsk tsk. Such ignorance and lack of knowledge.
yes, in America you must 1st pay the taxes, permits, fees etc before displaying it. Yeah, not so free enterprise.
You seem to be applying American laws and values to the authorities in another country.
If you knew anything about the way Ghandi operated and his role in the partition then you wouldn't make that comment.
Also , you guys dont know about Islamic dietary laws - you are not supposed to eat meat that has been found dead. Sort of makes sense when you think about it because who knows how it died and whether it could be harmful to you. So selling it as food is a big no-no.
Please what is it exactly...look around and if you understand finance, corporations, and economics, please elucidate.
Your comment suggests your ignorance of Ghandi's modus operandi...you appear to know even less about the Partition of Bharat and Pakistan from the Sub-continent of India.
But remember this: Gandhi, irrespective of his western image, was no match for Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan.
In America a similarly place entrepreneur would have to go through hoops after hoops to display his trophy, much less on public land with out dozens of clearances, promotions and sign-offs, while his fish disintegrated; then further hoops, taxes and fines...attorneys, even possible jail time and bankruptcy.
Exactly...till that knock on the door, or the breaking of it down.
Ignorance is bliss. Otherwise you wouldn't be sleeping the sleep of the innocent tonight, or ever again.
strange, these people seem to have too much government like we have but no talk of collecting taxes on the income of this windfall. we would never miss this opportunity.
Hamzsque, Gandhi was no match for Jinnah? Who in the world follows Jinnah, a man who collaborated with the English, who ate pork and drank wine. A man who had no sense of humor. From the beginning, Pakistan was a military state, one that mistreated Bengalis, one that eventually, a mere 20 years after their founding as a nation, butchered 3 million Bengalis, causing 13 million to flee to India for safety. Jinnah was a failure in his own failed state. Gandhi has followers throughout the world and is compared to Buddha and Christ. But I guess historical facts are the least important factor with those who are intellectually dishonest.
No, idiot, he's a right wing gun advocate nut job. PETA members are inherently non-violent. Get your insults straight!
Hamzsque El Sid313!*
Welcome to our country of freedom and free speech. Please learn the rules.
This is not an unusual size for a whale shark - which by the way is a bottom feeder whose main diet consists of plankton. I wish the news would provide adequate information about these amazing creatures - which by the way are extremely non-threatening. Many divers consider it a lifelong dream to be able to spot and swim next to one of these amazing creatures.
They're not actually "bottomfeeders" because they don't live on the bottom, but are pelagic, meaning they free swim in open water--at or near the surface down to a few hundred feet. They do eat plankton, but they swim to filter it out of the water column, not off the bottom.
I don't think you completely know what the term bottom feeder is.
Thank-you for the correction! I meant to write filter feeder.
absolutely, this is actually on the smaller side for this species...they are not carnivores.....they are filter feeders, what is the big deal????
This better reading than the funny papers, Didn't know you could disrespect a dead fish
Beg pardon, but they don't bottom feed. Plankton bloom and rise and fall with ocean currents.
Oops. There was a double post and the other corrections didn't show up. Sorry about that... This is indeed a young whale shark, they grow much larger than this one. Sad to lose it before it's grown and breeds.
The world record is 41ft 6in. So no,they dont get much bigger than this.
Just think what they would have paid to view Osama bin Laden's carcass.
Would have bought us a few more drones.
...damn!
I would have paid $500 to see Bin Ladens carcass.
It seems the US can't keep a damn thing secret, but the photos of Bin Laden...none to be seen. How does that happen?
this makes me so sad to see. I have a hard time believing that the whale shark was already dead before being fished. breaks my heart to see a very endangered creature being walked all over.
It's more than endangered it's DEAD! get over it WOW!!!!!!!
DeeDee, you clearly don't know the meaning of the word endangered. Perhaps you should look it up sometime.
Why is it hard to believe it was already dead? You think an ordinary fishing boat is going to reel in something that size? Right, because that happens all the time! Like all creatures do eventually, this one died, and the fishermen came across the carcass, and brought it in because it's not something you see every day. That does sound like the most reasonable explanation to me.
1 Pakistani rupee = 0.0110 US dollars
So, 200,000 Rupees is US $2200, and he is charging 20 Rupees, or 22 cents to view the carcass. Sounds reasonable to me, and perfectly understandable that people would pay that to see such a wonder.
That mans a genius! Next time I go out to a bar and bring a whale home I'm going to charge people to view it!
LMAO!!!
I especially like the kids comment after seeing the shark...I wanted to take it home....Umar, you take that thing back to where you found it...LOL
LOL,
I have not laughed out loud at a comment for a while. Thanks for brightening my day. :)
It's a shark, a fish, not a whale. It doesn't breathe air.
Peri, Peri, Peri! Thanks for ruining a joke!
P.S. It has "Whale" in it's name! "FOCUS"!
The gills are obvious, clearly observable. It is not a mammal...fish.
Love the comments so far. Most are probably by Americans who make it a point to slow down and watch the bloody accident in the lane next to them on the commute to work.
I had the same exact thought. And that accident doesn't look too much different than last week's. Yet we'll make fun of Pakistanis for wanting to see a 40-foot fish.
Yeah, they should be more American. If they had our sophistication, the only thing they would waste money on viewing is idiotic cable sitcoms and reality shows. Hmmm. Twenty-two cents to see a whale shark or eighty bucks to watch the Bachelorette?
Yeah Man, I totally agree. Add to that the disgusting tastes of internet porn. Surely not a big problem among the poor but Rich Americans calling these people 'stinky' is such hypocrisy must cause Jesus to weep.
These guys have a gold mine and tried to use it. The government probably saw this and were waiting for the proper bribe. And at $2200 its such a bargain ! There's probably $20,000 worth of shark fin on the creature.
None of this will go to waste, the rest being used as bait. It's the American Mind that would roll it off the dock thinking they are too RICH to do the right thing -- all because it was a little stinky.
Ok, why are you getting racist, first off how do you know he is black? second of all, there are many many many idians, arabs far far darker than any african american i've ever seen.
You call him a monkey, for calling these people"CAT'S", but what you ignoran idiotic arse fails to realise, is that the term cat, means DUDE, GUY and so on, it is'nt a racist term or a negative term al all. So stop being a retard, because if you are of arab decent, then there are many hateful names people call you people, like dooncoons, sandni66ers,desert monkey's, now do you see how the axe swing's both ways?
Lightdark,
That's dune coon, not dooncoon. I'm really surprised you left out camel jockey and rag head. You missed your evening meds.
Aren't we supposed to be supporting this guy for belief in capitalism? Why is there no outcry over police [ie, government] intervention?
I'm totally pissed at the police, if anything charge the guy a licensing fee to conduct a business but other than that he bought the fish, its his property and he can charge folks to see it if he wants. As far as you lame brains who have so many negative comments about people going to see the fish...hmph, let's see, we pay for so much stupidity here in the States that we would NEVER pay to see a fish right??? Wrong! I 'd be standing in line to see the huge monstrosity and so would you and we'd both be trying to figure out how we can snatch out a chunk from its side and take it home for dinner because we can't afford to eat these days. Many of you commenting pay hundreds of dollars to see athletes and music groups and they could care less than a damn about you. How many of you just went to the super bowl? Point made!
Why didn't they send it to the bottom of the ocean in the first place? It would feed a lot of creatures!
The Whale Shark is considered the "Gentle Giant of the Sea"! It means no one any harm, is long lived and is considered highly intelligent by many! My question is this... isn't this amazing creature protected or are they being decimated in mass for cat food and Whale Shark boots? I have nothing against these people in general but this behavior is puerile and abhorrent to the extreme.
I would buy whale shark catfood. Cats love it
Tank-You are assuming that someone killed it and there is nothing in the story to indicate that.
oops.. double post
Here's a solution to their dead shark problem: Just blow it up!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_t44siFyb4
people would pay 100 rupies to see that and he would get rid of the rotten thing.
Khannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!
oh freight train. what a succinct and accurate post.
The only difference between them and us is that we would have had a media field day with some fantastic story about the shark, taken the meat out and sold it for $20 a lb as a delicacy rare meat and had the rest of the shark stuffed and sold it to a museum where people would pay $10 just to go see it and all of this without the stink.
Higher technology = a superior means of disrespect. It's capitialism at its best in a primitive fashion. God Bless America!
You are exactly right, they are doing a ugly version of what we do everyday (look at NYC). We are no better, never were. We all take the same rim skidding dumps
Your statement is so true. In the end we are all the same, we just seem more sophisticated. They behave in the same manner that we do, except without the technology to disguise the wrongness of what is being done. I wish we would take better care of our planet, God gave us dominion over all the animal kingdom and this is what we do...
Brunt, they don't have water-flush toilets. They have pit toilets (if they're lucky enough to have indoor facilities at all). You're correct in that that Americans are ignorant, et voila your own remark.
i am sure the smell blends in with the rest of the aromas there.....
LET THE MAN MAKE SOME MONEY.
If this was Australia this would be a non-story.
Yeah, he may have bought the fish, but it's not exactly in his living room. It looks to be in a public place.
Wow, things are getting creepier and creepier. What's wrong with those people? They've never heard of this type of animal?
Whale shark, it's common but boring. It's not as fast as great white and as you can see not as lean and pretty.
So you've seen a whale shark in the wild? If you have you should count yourself very fortunate. I'll never see one in my lifetime although I've always wanted to do. I thought I might be able to get to the Atlanta aquarium but due to the drought the two juvenile whale sharks they had were returned to the sea...and thus my chance is gone forever.
They are neither common nor are they boring. These animals are very endangered. That means there are not many of them remaining in the oceans of the world and they are protected.
In the water they are gentle and graceful swimmers. Beauty's in the eye of the beholder. Is there no beauty in your eye nor in your heart?
This topic here isn't the great white shark, it's the whale shark. We aren't discussing which is better, prettier or faster. It's neither a beauty contest nor a race. Why would you try to make it so?
Peridot-What are you talking about that the Georgia Aquarium released their whale sharks into the ocean? The Georgia Aquarium has had 6 whale sharks since their opening in 2005. Their original four were Alice, Trixie, Norton, and Ralph. Ralph and Norton died in 2007 (Not sure on the date). The same year, they added two more males.
They have had the same sharks since then. They currently have Alice, Trixie, and two new sharks... And they have had them since the death of their other two in 2007. They have never released any of their whale sharks into the ocean.
Way to go with your incorrect reporing, MSNBC. A whale shark is a baleen whale, not a shark. Do a little research next time. While this is not the point of the article, it's annoying that the facts would be wrong from a major "news source" especially because the fact that this is actually a whale and not a shark would bring greater backlash from the public.
Ignorant and selfish hearted. Disturbing to see people walking over a dead animal. Would you want people to walk over you while your dead?? Please get rid of this article as it shows people who care less about life. And to bring your children. Really???
Not a whale. Definately a shark Maddi-5208875. Do your research!
What is wrong with you people? Your remarks are callous and uncalled for from many. Get a life, and just deal with the fact that you just might be upset that you weren't there. I for one, would not have walked on it, but went to see it? Heck yea, a creature from the sea is exciting no other way to put it. Those children will never forget it, and tell the story for years to come. Now what the heck is really wrong with that? I can tell you this, you all need a fun day, go have one and get your happy back.
Uuurrrpp! I think I just threw up a little bit in my mouth.
have a mint!