{"id":6894,"date":"2012-07-25T02:00:18","date_gmt":"2012-07-25T10:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blitransfer.wpengine.com\/?p=6894"},"modified":"2017-06-21T14:18:49","modified_gmt":"2017-06-21T19:18:49","slug":"tagging-whale-sharks-with-pet-ids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bluelivingideas.com\/2012\/07\/25\/tagging-whale-sharks-with-pet-ids\/","title":{"rendered":"Tagging Whale Sharks with Pet IDs"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Whale<\/a><\/p>\n

Conservationists are tagging whale sharks in Indonesia with pet IDs. Pet tags cost significantly less than the usual satellite tags – $4 compared to $4000.<\/p>\n

The whale sharks gather around fishing nets in Cenderawasih Bay and suck the captured fish out through holes in the nets. The video below shows a whale shark feeding with this technique.<\/p>\n

Whale sharks aren’t dangerous to humans. They feed on small fish and plankton. The conservationists with World Wildlife Fund were able to dive into the waters with the sharks and tag them while feeding.<\/p>\n

Not much is known about the behavior of whale sharks and the pet tags will provide information on where the whale sharks go. Whale sharks are classified as vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.<\/p>\n