As of 2018, 41,415 species are on the IUCN Red List. 16,306 of these are endangered species threatened with extinction – under threat from factors like climate change, poaching, pollution, and other dangers commonly associated with humans. Even though many movements have sought to highlight the plight of these species, cases of animal cruelty and the slaughter of wildlife are constant headlines in the news throughout the world.
Unfortunately, such is the case in our country, Malaysia, as well. Several slaughtered hammerhead sharks were discovered by a foreign tourist who went diving in Sabah recently, according to The Star.
Hoping to have a good time on his scuba diving trip on Mabul Island in the Semporna district, Gareth Jones was faced with a horrifying sight that he will never forget. In a two-minute long video that was posted on his Facebook page, several shark heads and parts of their upper bodies can be seen on the seabed just miles from the island itself.
Source: Scuba Junkie
“I am shocked with what I saw at the end of my scuba diving trip in Sabah,” he said on his Facebook page.
“I have dived in Borneo many times and did not think I would ever see such distressing images of discarded dead sharks just a few miles from Sipadan.”
“Why should tourists travel to see the world famous Sipadan sharks if they are being hunted to extinction?”
He then called for the public to share his video to raise awareness and to seek protection for sharks, and to stop the killings.
Source: Facebook
Datuk Christina Liew, Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, said that she would get to the bottom of this and find out why these sharks were killed.
Meanwhile, Aderick Chong, Sabah Shark Protection Association chairman, said the state government needed to quickly decide whether to list hammerhead sharks as protected, as a proposal was made to have the vulnerable species included in the list of protected marine species in Sabah.
“We need a clear guideline and law on shark protection,” he said, adding that divers from all over the world come to Sabah to dive with sharks.
Source: Facebook
He also mentioned that the government should include all shark species in the list instead of listing only several species in order to prevent loopholes.
Watch Gareth Jones’ video here:
I am shocked at what I have seen at the end of my scuba diving trip in Sabah in Malaysian Borneo. I have been diving in Borneo many times and did not think I would ever see such distressing images of discarded dead sharks just a few miles from Sipadan. I am not a shark expert but the images clearly show slaughtered hammerheads in the reefs off Mabul Island. Why should tourists travel to see the world famous Sipadan sharks if they are being hunted to extinction. If you want this shark killing to stop, please share this video and ask for better protection for sharks. Semporna Shark SanctuaryShark GuardianSHARK SAVERS MalaysiaProject AWAREMIDE EXPOSabah Tourism BoardScubazooSabah Shark Protection AssociationBite-Back Shark & Marine ConservationShark AngelsTourism Malaysia SabahSHARK SAVERS SingaporeThe Shark TrustBlue Planet Society
Posted by Gareth Jones on Friday, May 3, 2019
It’s so sad to see so many dead sharks on that sea bed. We only hope that stricter rules will be implemented against the horrible act of shark slaughtering and that the extinction of this species will be prevented.
Also read: Whale Shark Dead on Sabah’s Shores from Eating Plastic Bag Reveals Grim Reality
