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Whale shark approaches Malaysian fishing boat for 'help'; fishermen oblige

KUALA LUMPUR — Sharks and fishermen aren’t known to be bosom buddies, but representatives of both species developed a sort of ‘finship’ recently.

A video of a whale shark approaching a fishing boat off East Malaysia and appealing to the fishermen onboard for help has gone viral.

A video of a whale shark approaching a fishing boat off East Malaysia and appealing to the fishermen onboard for help has gone viral.

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KUALA LUMPUR — Sharks and fishermen aren’t known to be bosom buddies, but representatives of both species developed a sort of ‘finship’ recently.

A video of a whale shark approaching a fishing boat off East Malaysia and appealing to the fishermen onboard for help has surfaced on the Internet and gone viral.

The whale shark — a filter feeder that poses no danger to humans — had a loop of rope caught around its midsection, which was presumably causing it considerable discomfort.

The 1-minute-and 54-second video shows the whale shark swimming towards the boat and staying next to it to allow the excited fishermen to remove the rope.

One man gently lowered a pole with a hook at the end to grab hold of the rope. After several tries, he managed to snag it while also drawing the whale shark closer to the boat.

Once within arm’s length, another fisherman produced a cleaver, which he used to cut through the rope until it was completely severed and came away easily from the whale shark’s body.

Thankful to be freed of its lasso, the whale shark drifts away — but not before swishing its tail on the surface of the water as an expression of thanks to his saviours.

The fishermen are all heard saying “Bye!” with one man remarking on how “happy” the giant animal had become.

Netizens around the world have fallen hook, line and sinker for the video, with many hailing the fishermen for getting on so ‘swimmingly’ with the liberated whale shark. NEW STRAITS TIMES

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whale shark Malaysia pollution wildlife

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