A whale shark was spotted at Al Bahar Beach in Abu Dhabi prompting the authorities to close the beach for swimmers.
The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) reportedly spotted the endangered whale shark in the Kasr Al Amwaj area of the emirate and advised the management of the beach to put operations on hold until Friday, October 12.
“A whale shark has been spotted by Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi in the Kasr Al Amwaj area. While they’re quite safe creatures, the EAD still sent out a beach warning to steer clear of the waters for health and safety reasons,” read a statement on the Facebook page of Al Bahar beach.
Authorities reminded the public that whale sharks are not dangerous. They are, however, categorized as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
The public is urged to contact authorities at 800555 if they sight the shark.
EAD is monitoring a whale shark that has been spotted in Kasr Al Amwaj area in Abu Dhabi Considered Endangered on the IUCN Red List of threatened species, #WhaleSharks appear occasionally in the marinas and waterways of Abu Dhabi during this time of year and are not harmful. pic.twitter.com/pBP9aTI3ro
— EAD (@EADTweets) October 4, 2018
If you come across a whale shark, we urge you to not approach it and for boat drivers to keep a safe distance. Let us know by calling 800555 pic.twitter.com/WhLvg9f8OI
— EAD (@EADTweets) October 4, 2018
