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. This initiative was part of WTI’s Pan-India Whale Shark Conservation Project.
The comprehensive awareness campaign covered Munroe Island, Chavara Thekkumbhagom Island, Perumon, neighbouring islands, the waters of Ashtamudi Lake, as well as Neendakara and Shakthikulangara harbours. The primary goal was 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 highlight of the campaign was the transport of a life-size inflatable model of a whale shark by boat to the islands. This proved highly effective in attracting the attention of local communities and stimulating engagement.
The event saw impressive participation, with nearly 3,330 people involved. Speaking on the occasion, Jithin Jose, Field Officer at WTI, emphasized 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, which makes accidental capture a critical issue requiring urgent attention.
This event forms part of WTI’s ongoing collaborative conservation efforts, which have already yielded tangible results. To date, 50 whale sharks have been successfully released back into the sea by fishers participating in this campaign in Kerala, showcasing the positive impact of community engagement.
To further support these efforts, WTI has developed the Meenu Watcher app, designed to help fishers report and safely release accidentally entangled whale sharks. This user-friendly tool enables fishers to document rescues with photos or videos, while automatically recording geo-coordinates, date, and time.
The tamper-proof data collected serves as verified proof of conservation action, helping identify rescue hotspots and informing future policy and conservation strategies.
Together, these steps represent a significant push towards the preservation of whale sharks and the marine ecosystems they help sustain.
https://www.mid-day.com/news/india-news/article/kerala-life-size-whale-shark-tours-kollam-as-part-of-wildlife-trust-of-indias-awareness-drive-23596748