Divers arrested from outrageous video - video

Police have arrested men who made a video documenting their outrageous behaviour underwater while diving. The divers were riding a whale shark, causing the animal immense stress.

The incident took place earlier this month in Cenderawasih Bay, New Guinea. The footage appalled the diving community and went viral on the internet, resulting in the arrest of the perpetrators.

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The video was posted on Twitter on 9 August, by well-known Indonesian musician Akhadi Wira Satriaji, operating on the popular site under the pseudonym @fishgod. The footage shows several divers surrounding and hanging onto a whale shark in Cenderawasih Bay, part of Indonesia’s largest marine national park.

The musician tagged the official account of the Minister of Fisheries, Susan Pudjiastuti, in his post and the latter, after taking interest in the matter, confirmed that the police have arrested the divers captured in the video and consequences will be meted out to them.

“We have looked into the matter and the perpetrators have been caught, “said Susan Pudjiastuti. Although she did not reveal the identity of the perpetrators, some media reported that one of the divers is a well-known businessman from Makassar, South Sulawesi. It has also not yet been announced what charges the men will face.

Whale sharks are under strict protection in Indonesia, and their numbers are small. These gentle giants slowly roam the waters of the oceans without posing the slightest threat to humans. Unfortunately, this is not a two-way trend.

Source: coconuts.co