The event, under Wildlife Trust of India’s Pan-India Whale Shark Conservation Project, aimed to engage fishing communities and raise awareness about the urgent need to protect the world’s largest fish species
The initiative is designed to raise awareness among fishing communities and the general public. Pic/Special Arrangement by Ranjeet Jadhav
A life-size inflatable whale shark made waves across the islands and harbours of Kollam in Kerala as part of a large-scale sensitisation campaign led by the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) in partnership with Oracle.
The event, under WTI’s Pan-India Whale Shark Conservation Project, aimed to engage fishing communities and raise awareness about the urgent need to protect the world’s largest fish species.
The Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), in collaboration with Oracle, successfully conducted a large-scale sensitisation event on 30 September across key locations in Kollam, Kerala, as part of WTI’s Pan-India Whale Shark Conservation Project.
The comprehensive awareness campaign spanned Munroe Island, Chavara Thekkumbhagom Island, Perumon, neighbouring islands, the waters of Ashtamudi Lake, along with Neendakara and Shakthikulangara harbours.
The initiative was designed to raise awareness among fishing communities and the general public about the ecological importance of whale sharks and the urgent need for their conservation.
A key feature of the campaign was the transport of a life-size inflatable model of a whale shark by boat to the islands, which proved highly effective in drawing the attention of local communities.
The event saw impressive participation, engaging nearly 3,330 people. Speaking on the occasion, Jithin Jose, Field Officer, WTI, highlighted the significance of the species: "Protecting whale sharks is paramount. They play a vital role in maintaining healthy marine ecosystems, and their conservation is a shared responsibility."
The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is the largest fish species in the world and is classified as Endangered by the IUCN. In India, it is protected under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, making its accidental capture a critical issue that requires urgent attention.
This event is a component of WTI's collaborative conservation efforts, which have yielded tangible results on the ground. So far, 50 whale sharks have been successfully released back into the sea by fishers under this campaign in Kerala, reflecting the positive impact of community engagement.
WTI has also developed the ‘Meenu Watcher’ app to help fishers report and safely release accidentally entangled whale sharks. This user-friendly tool allows fishers to document rescues with photos or videos, while automatically recording geo-coordinates, date, and time. The tamper-proof data serves as verified proof of conservation action, helping to identify rescue hotspots and inform future policy and conservation efforts.
These initiatives continue to inspire fishing communities across the state to actively engage in whale shark conservation and recognise their essential role as guardians of marine biodiversity.
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