Helping Protect Thailand’s Whale Sharks

Few marine animals capture the imagination quite like the whale shark. As the largest fish in the ocean, these gentle giants can grow to over 12 metres in length, yet they feed primarily on tiny plankton and small fish. Encountering a whale shark underwater is often described as a life-changing experience, leaving divers and ocean lovers with a deep appreciation for these magnificent animals.

What many people don't realise is that every whale shark sighting can play an important role in protecting the species. Across Thailand, divers, snorkellers, photographers, and ocean enthusiasts are helping researchers better understand whale sharks through one of the country's most successful citizen science initiatives.

The Story Behind Thai Whale Sharks

The project began in 2017 under the name Koh Tao Whale Sharks, with a simple but powerful goal: collect whale shark sighting data from local divers and ocean users around Koh Tao, a hotspot diving destination in the Gulf of Thailand.

At the time, relatively little was known about the movements, population size, and seasonal patterns of whale sharks in Thailand. Researchers recognised that thousands of divers were entering the water every year, creating a unique opportunity to gather valuable information through community participation.

What started as a local initiative quickly grew into something much bigger.

Thanks to years of dedicated reporting and data collection, Koh Tao has become recognised as one of the world's leading whale shark sighting hotspots. In fact, it is now ranked among the top 30 global locations for whale shark encounters, highlighting the island's importance as a habitat for these incredible animals.

The success of the project demonstrated just how powerful citizen science can be when a community comes together with a shared conservation goal.

Website: https://www.thaiwhalesharks.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thaiwhalesharks/

Expanding Across Thailand

Building on the success of the Koh Tao program, the project expanded in 2020 and became Thai Whale Sharks.

The new initiative broadened its scope beyond a single island, encouraging sighting reports from across the entire country. From the Gulf of Thailand to the Andaman Sea, divers and marine enthusiasts now contribute valuable information that helps create a clearer picture of whale shark distribution throughout Thai waters.

This national approach allows researchers to better understand where whale sharks are being seen, how often they return to certain areas, and whether individual sharks are moving between different regions of Thailand.

Citizen Science in Action

One of the most remarkable aspects of the Thai Whale Sharks project is that anyone can contribute.

Every photograph and video submitted provides researchers with valuable data. Whale sharks have unique spot patterns on their bodies, similar to human fingerprints. These patterns allow scientists to identify individual animals and track them over time.

When a sighting is submitted, researchers can compare the images against existing records to determine whether the shark has been seen before. This process helps answer important questions about population size, site fidelity, and movement patterns. Over time, these records build a growing database that provides critical insights into the lives of whale sharks in Thailand.

Without the support of the diving community and the public, gathering this information across such a large geographic area would be extremely difficult and costly. Citizen scientists are therefore playing a direct role in whale shark conservation every time they share a sighting.

The Next Phase: Whale Shark Tagging Research

While photo identification has already provided invaluable information, the project is now preparing to take an exciting next step.

Thai Whale Sharks is moving into tagging research, a significant advancement that will help scientists gain a much deeper understanding of whale shark behaviour.

By using specialised tags, researchers can collect information about migration routes, habitat use, diving behaviour, and seasonal movements. This technology has the potential to reveal where whale sharks travel after leaving Thai waters, how they use different marine environments, and which areas are most important for their survival.

The information gathered through tagging studies can help guide future conservation strategies, marine protected area planning, and policy decisions designed to protect whale sharks both locally and internationally. However, research of this scale requires significant resources, equipment, expertise, and ongoing financial support. Continued community involvement and funding will be essential to make these ambitious projects a success.

How You Can Help

Protecting whale sharks is not something that scientists can do alone. Every person who spends time in the ocean has the opportunity to contribute.

If you encounter a whale shark in Thailand:

• Take a clear photo or video whenever possible.

• Record the location and date of the sighting.

• Submit the information through the Thai Whale Sharks Facebook page.

Even a single image can provide valuable information that contributes to long-term conservation efforts. The project also provides educational materials, including Whale Shark Code of Conduct posters, which help promote responsible and respectful interactions with these animals. By following and sharing these guidelines, divers and operators can help ensure that whale shark tourism remains sustainable and safe for both people and sharks.

Download the poster here:

Whale Shark ID Poster.pdf

Download PDF • 9.11MB

Every Sighting Counts

Conservation often feels like something that happens in laboratories, research vessels, or government offices. The Thai Whale Sharks project shows that conservation can also happen through everyday people making simple contributions. And every person has the power to help protect Thailand's whale sharks for future generations.