QuickCheck: Was an endangered whale shark sighted in Pulau Bidong waters?

A GROUP of divers spotted a whale shark measuring about 3m off Pulau Bidong in Terengganu recently. Is this true?

VERDICT:

TRUE

Universiti Malaysia Terengganu’s (UMT) Faculty of Marine Science and Environment senior lecturer Dr Maizah Mohd Abdullah described the discovery of a whale shark as exciting.

“This discovery last Friday (July 15) is exciting because these marine animals are often found in Pulau Redang, but have never been recorded around the waters off Pulau Bidong,” she said.

Local diver Mohamad Hafiz Hamzah, 34, who recorded the whale shark’s appearance at a depth of about 12m, shared his excitement with Bernama over the discovery.

“I was underwater when suddenly, three other divers were chasing after something behind me. When I turned around, (I saw the) whale shark. It feels unreal, like did that really happen?” he said.

Mohamad Hafiz was one of the participants of the Bidong Summit which was held from July 14-16 at the Pulau Bidong Marine Natural Research Station.

Source: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2022/07/18/endangered-whale-shark-sighted-off-pulau-bidong