Outrage ensues after photo of slaughtered whale shark turns up on internet

Whale sharks are enormous creatures who do not pose a significant threat to humans.

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They are also listed as protected, making their capture and sale illegal.

That didn't seem to stop one from being killed and hung on display in southwest China, according to RT.

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Photos of the slain whale shark quickly began to circulate on social media, prompting outrage among many.

One person wrote, "I would like to string up whoever did this," notes GrindTV.

It's believed the shark in the disturbing images is the same one featured in an array of photos taken not long before, reports Shanghaiist.

In that set, the big fish is very much alive and moving peacefully through the waters near a offshore oil site.