The “Save the Whale Shark Project” was launched in 2004 in partnership with the Wildlife Trust of India and the Gujarat State Forest Department to create conservation awareness amongst coastal communities on the protection of this endangered species. Since then, the project has been a big success, and fishing communities who once hunted the whale shark have now turned guardians of this gentle giant. The project continues and subsequent phases were focused on the study of whale shark ecology for the establishment of a scientific database including migratory and breeding patterns of this fish, its feeding habits etc., and has been widely recognized as a role model at national and international levels. Due to delays related to project extension and funding, only a limited number of activities including celebrations of Whale Shark Day and Week, could be conducted this year. 38 whale shark rescues were recorded between January and December 2021, bringing the total rescues up to 846 by the end of 2021. Between January and March 2022, 11 whale sharks were rescues, bringing the total rescues up to 857 by the end of March 2022.
WTI, in partnership with C-SCAPES, Tata Chemicals Society for Rural Development, Tata Chemicals Ltd. and the Gujarat Forest Department, facilitate awareness and knowledge-building events on the importance of whale shark conservation. They also conduct capacity-building for fishermen in support of the State governments compensation programme for release of whale sharks from fishing nets.
The project is helping achieve zero incidents of whale shark poaching, injury and deaths, across the Saurashtra coast.
38 whale shark rescues were recorded between January and December 2021, bringing the total rescues up to 846 by the end of 2021. Between January and March 2022, 11 whale sharks were rescued, bringing the total rescues (since the project began) to 857 by the end of March 2022. Vivek & Nisha visited Delhi on 15th February to strategize with WTI for the long-term sustainability of the whale shark conservation project in Gujarat.
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