When we think about sharks, our minds tend to wander to conjured up images of great whites, bulls, or hammerheads. Those animals can often dominate the conversation about shark conservation, as well. Yet, one of the ocean’s most majestic and mysterious sharks has quietly become a symbol of hope along India’s coastline, the triumphant story unveiled at the 2025 IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi in mid-October. It was here that the Wildlife Trust of India unveiled “Conserving India’s Gentle Giants: Whale Shark Conservation Project 2002–2025,” a report summarizing a remarkable two-decade journey of science, community, and cultural transformation when it comes to the world’s largest fish.
Despite their massive size, whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) are filter feeders that dine on plankton and tiny fish, gliding slowly through warm tropical waters. In the late 1990s, however, these gentle giants faced a grim fate in India, hunted for their liver oil (which was used in waterproofing boats) and meat. What began as a livelihood soon pushed the species to the brink of local extinction, as landing numbers began to skyrockets, particularly along the Gujarat coast. Conservationists feared that without urgent action, the species could disappear from Indian waters entirely.
Then came a turning point.
In 2001, in collaboration with Green Oscar-winning filmmaker Mike Pandey, India granted the whale shark full legal protection under the Wild Life (Protection) Act of 1972. A year later, the Wildlife Trust of India, in collaboration with multiple partners including Tata Chemicals and the International Fund for Animal Welfare, launched the Whale Shark Conservation Project. And then they did something truly remarkable: instead of relying solely on scientific messaging, the project tapped into local culture and spirituality. Working with community leaders, religious figures, and corporate partners, conservationists reframed the whale shark as a “Vhali” — a daughter of the sea. The message resonated deeply. Saving a whale shark was no longer just about ecology; it became an act of familial and moral duty. Fishermen who had once seen whale sharks as obstacles began rescuing them from their nets instead of killing them.
This attitude shift led to the launch of the formal Whale Shark Conservation Project in 2008, in partnership with the Gujarat Forest Department and Tata Chemicals Ltd. The initiative combines scientific research and community action, using photo-identification, satellite tagging, and a fisher compensation program that reimburses those who cut their nets to rescue entangled sharks, making India the first nation with such a policy. Over 1,500 cameras have been distributed for fishers to document rescues, and sightings of 18 whale shark pups suggest potential breeding activity in Indian waters. Since then, WTI expanded conservation efforts to Kerala and the Lakshadweep Islands between 2017 and 2025, supported by Cochin Shipyard Ltd., Oracle India, VMware, and VST Industries. The first fisher-led releases in Kerala occurred in 2018 and 2020, and to date 46 whale sharks have been rescued in the region. More than 1,000 whale sharks have now been rescued and released across India’s coasts, and surveys across 118 landing sites reveal that direct hunting has declined sharply, replaced by a growing sense of stewardship among coastal communities. The project’s success in Gujarat has also inspired similar initiatives in Kerala and Lakshadweep, where campaigns have led to the release of over 50 whale sharks in the past seven years.
But the work is far from done. The report highlights that accidental entanglement in gillnets remains the primary threat, especially in regions like Sourashtra, Malvan, Netrani, Krishna, Kakinada, Kerala, and Lakshadweep. Many of these areas rely heavily on fishing for their livelihoods, and awareness of whale shark protections still varies by state. Ad the project is now extending to Goa, using lessons learned from other states to strengthen awareness and protection across the western coastline. Led by Saymanti B, the Whale Shark Conservation Project stands as one of India’s most successful marine conservation stories. What makes this initiative stand out is its recognition that conservation isn’t just about protecting species but protecting relationships between man and nature. “This is a 20-year story of collaboration,” said Vivek Menon, Executive Director of WTI and IUCN Councillor, at the Congress event. “Spiritual leaders, local communities, scientists, and conservationists working together to bring a species back. Policy and data are important, but people protect what they value. When communities, culture, and conservation align, recovery becomes possible.” That sentiment captures what many marine conservation efforts around the world are still striving to achieve: a model that blends scientific rigor with social inclusion. “In two decades of collaborative efforts among communities, enforcement agencies, conservation scientists, and corporations, the Whale Shark Conservation model has shown that integrating multiple sectors is essential to conserve marine megafauna,” summarized Professor B.C. Choudhury, Senior Advisor at WTI.
The Whale Shark Conservation Project has evolved beyond data collection or rescue missions; it’s become a living example of how conservation can honor both tradition and modern science. As the report lays out a roadmap for the next phase — expanding outreach, blending traditional knowledge with scientific insight, and strengthening local stewardship — it’s clear that the projects has laid down a foundation of trust between humans and the sea, highlighting that effective conservation requires more than data points and policy. It needs heart, humility, and shared purpose. But as India looks to scale this model across its coastline, a larger question emerges: can this success be replicated elsewhere? Could the same principles (i.e., cultural ownership, fisher empowerment, and community-driven science) work for other species, especially those that lack the natural charisma of a whale shark? Conservation campaigns often rely on iconic “flagship” animals to capture attention, yet ecosystems depend just as much on the survival of smaller, less celebrated creatures such as the coral polyps building reefs, the mangrove crabs maintaining coastal balance, or the deep-sea species we barely know exist. How do we foster emotional connections with species that don’t inspire awe at first sight? Can storytelling, education, and cultural framing make people care about the unglamorous yet vital parts of biodiversity?
India’s whale shark project shows that when people feel connected to a species, when they see themselves as its caretakers rather than outsiders enforcing rules, protection becomes a shared responsibility rather than an obligation. Looking forward, the next chapter in global conservation may hinge on how effectively we can replicate this approach across borders and for species that don’t automatically capture human admiration. This at least gives us some how that when the people who live closest to nature (those whose livelihoods, traditions, and daily lives are intertwined with the environment) are empowered to protect it, true conservation doesn’t just happen.
It endures.
