A 3,000 kilogram whale shark stranded in the Pearl River Delta in southern China's Guangdong Province died shortly after it was spotted by fishermen on Tuesday.<br/> <br />The six-metre-long shark had been seen swimming slowly several days earlier by local fishermen, who suspected it had lost its way and was suffering as a result of unsuitable water conditions.<br/> <br />Surprised residents said it was unusual for this type of shark to swim in such shallow waters.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) UNIDENTIFIED FISHERMAN SAYING:<br/> <br />"We have never seen this kind of fish in this area. We have seen many sharks, small ones, but we have never seen a fish like this."<br/> <br />Fishermen used cranes to move the heavy carcass.<br/> <br />The whale shark's body was taken to a nearby orchard for burial, where it was laid on ice to slow down decomposition.<br/> <br />Whale sharks are one of the largest existing species of fish, reaching up to 12 metres in length and often weighing about 20 tonnes.<br/> <br />Travis Brecher, Reuters
