A lost whale shark was discovered dead on a beach in western Indonesia, having become snared in a fish-trap on October 7.

Footage from today (October 8) shows the giant fish's carcass being measured by environmental officials on Taluak Batuang beach, Batang Kapas district, Pesisir Selatan Regency, West Sumatra.

After being measured the whale shark was moved 50 metres inland and buried using heavy equipment.

The protected fish had swam into a "Pukat", a type of traditional fishing gear owned by shark fishermen.