A Hong Kong-based conservation group have discovered a factory that processes over 600 whale sharks every year in southern China, according to a report by AFP.

The factory is being called the biggest slaughterhouse for whale sharks in the world.

Whale sharks can measure up to 39 feet, but pose no harm to humans and mainly feed off of tiny marine animals found in the ocean, according to AFP.

"How these harmless creatures, these gentle giants of the deep, can be slaughtered on such an industrial scale is beyond belief," said a WildLifeRisk in a statement issued to AFP.

The conservation group, WildLifeRisk, said that if found the factory in the town of Pu Qi in Zhejiang province after an investigation that started in 2010.

Sharks are slaughtered and processed at the factory mostly to produce shark oil for health "supplements" like lipsticks and face creams, according to AFP.

"It's even more incredible that this carnage is all for the sake of non-essential lifestyle props such as lipsticks, face creams, health supplements and shark fin soup," said the conservation group.

The group was also able to confirm that the factory deals with other species of sharks as well, like basking sharks and blue sharks, to produce over 200 tons of shark oil every year.

A man in another segment of the video said whale shark skins are shipped to European countries like France and Italy, where they can be used at Chinese restaurants.

Video footage taken by the group shows workers cutting up the large sharks and other shark species.

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