Distressing video shows whale shark being butchered while still alive

ANIMAL rights activists are up in arms over a disturbing video that shows a whale shark being cut into pieces while it’s still alive. WARNING: Graphic

WARNING: Graphic

AS THE world continues to reel over the death of Cecil the lion, disturbing footage has emerged of more animal cruelty taking place, this time with the gruesome butchering of a giant whale shark — while it’s still alive.

The upsetting video shows a large crowd watching the whale shark, which is clearly still alive, as it is slowly cut into pieces by two men with a long saw.

As the animal’s mouth opens and closes, the men can be seen sawing off its tailfin before slowly working their way up its body, slicing it into large chunks.

Blood and water can be seen gushing from the large fish.

Barbaric ... A whale shark is butchered while still alive. Picture: YouTube

Still breathing ... The whale shark can be seen moving its mouth. Picture: YouTube

Animal rights activists and shark conservation groups are outraged by the video, which was shot somewhere in China.

“The footage of a whale shark being butchered whilst apparently still alive has appalled Shark Trust supporters,” Ali Hood, director of conservation at The Shark Trust said of the incident. “To see such a magnificent, placid animal treated with such little dignity demonstrates to the Shark Trust how vital it is to continue to raise awareness as to the importance of sharks and their relatives to a healthy, balanced marine environment.”

Several onlookers expressed their distress and called the fishermen cruel, reports the Inquisitr, however the butchering continued.

Beautiful creature ... A whale shark in the wild.

The whale shark is a protected species and is the largest known living fish species, growing to be about 12 metres in length. They are docile animals that pose no threat to humans.

Despite their protected status, whale hunting continues to be popular in China, where their meat is used to make shark fin soup.