Photograph by Matthew D. Potenski, MDP Photography/Marine Photobank.Fishermen in Gujarat freed a whale shark pup from their nets on April 18, 2013, sparking hopes that the world's largest fish may be breeding in our waters. Local fisherman Mohan Beem Solanki reported the find to the Whale Shark Conservation Project, a joint initiative of the Gujarat Forest Department, Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) and Tata Chemicals Limited. The project has seen several successes and project directors count their close relationship with fisherfolk as one of them. Prof. B.C. Choudhury, Senior Advisor, WTI, highlighted this saying, “We have been trying to understand ecology, behaviour and migration of the whale sharks, after the successful whale shark campaign that convinced fishermen to release whale sharks caught in their nets. Now these fishermen are actually helping us out in a number of ways. One is reporting such rescues, which itself gives us some valuable insights through circumstantial evidence. A pup being found could mean that the whale shark reproduces or gives birth here." The pup was around 60 cm. long, leading officials to believe that it was between a month to two months old.
Source: Sanctuary Asia.
