By Leon Watson


Reeled in: Pakistani fishermen use cranes to pull the carcass of a whale shark from the water


Try telling someone you caught this 40ft fish that's as big as a whale - because they're unlikely to believe you.

But that's exactly what a group of fishermen will be saying after landing this monster from the deep in the Arabian Sea.

Pictures emerged today of the giant whaleshark being reeled in and brought to port in the Pakistani city of Karachi.


Crowds gathered to catch a glimpse of the beast - believed to be one of the biggest ever caught - as it was hauled out of the water at Charai Fishery.

Two cranes were brought in to pull the eight-ton shark's carcass out. But that failed, so eventually another crane was brought in to complete the task.

The shark was spotted floating unconscious in the sea ten days ago, around 90 miles away from shore.

Bidding for the shark had already begun.


Massive: The 40ft fish was brought to harbour in Karachi, Pakistan


Onlookers crowd around the carcass of the whale shark at a fish harbour in Karachi

Two cranes lift the dead shark as they try to get it out of the water

The largest confirmed whaleshark was 41ft long but it is thought they can grow to considerably greater lengths.

The shark is found in tropical waters and lives for around 70 years. They feed mainly on plankton, microscopic plants and sometimes small fish.

It has a cavernous mouth that can be up to 5ft wide and contains between 300 and 350 rows of tiny teeth.

The whale shark, a gentle giant of the seas, does not pose a significant danger to humans - and in the past some have even allowed swimmers to hitch a ride on their fins.


People stand on the floating fish as it rests in the water, around 90 miles away from where it was caught


Shark attraction: Ropes are attached to the weighty whale in an attempt to get it onto dry land



source:dailymail