Rare blue whale shark spotted on Odisha coast

Locals of Sonapur beach in Ganjam district in Odisha were caught by surprise when a huge blue whale shark washed ashore on Thursday. The shark was first spotted lying lifeless by some fisherfolk in the afternoon following which forest department officials were alerted. The Forest personnel identified the big fish as a Blue Whale Shark which is 20-feet-long. With the help of locals, the Forest personnel released the Blue Whale Shark into the sea. Whale sharks are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act and an "endangered" species in the International Union for Conservation of Nature.