Returning Hope to the Andaman Sea: From Citizen Science to Shark Recovery in Thailand

On Monday, 8th December, in Phuket, conservation partners gathered for a moment that brought both hope and history to Thailand’s oceans. Four young Indo-Pacific leopard sharks — Maiton, Hope, Spot, and Toty — were successfully released back into the Andaman Sea as part of Project STAR Thailand, a national initiative dedicated to restoring one of the country’s most endangered shark species.

Shark Guardian attended the release in support of this vital, science-led conservation effort — but for us, this moment represented far more than a symbolic release. It was the culmination of over a decade of education, research, and collaboration toward the recovery of Thailand’s iconic leopard sharks.

A United Front for Shark Recovery

The release was the result of an extraordinary collaboration between the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR), WildAid, the National Parks, Wildlife & Plant Conservation Department, the Department of Fisheries, Aquaria Phuket, Ocean Blue Tree, and the Koh Mai Thon Hotel.

Every partner shared the same message:

“Sharks are essential to the health of our oceans — and without urgent, collective action, species like the leopard shark could disappear from Thai waters altogether.”

This event was not just a release, but a united stand for the future of Thailand’s reefs.

Only 57–172 Leopard Sharks Left in the Andaman Sea

Recent scientific estimates suggest that only 57–172 individual leopard sharks remain across the entire Andaman region. To put this in perspective, the ecosystem’s capacity could naturally support over 1,000 leopard sharks, meaning the population may now be less than 20% of what healthy reefs require.

Leopard sharks are slow-growing and slow to reproduce, which makes natural recovery almost impossible without intervention. These numbers make the work of Project STAR Thailand — and the collaboration behind it — not only urgent, but essential.

From Citizen Science to Species Recovery — Shark Guardian’s Journey

Shark Guardian’s connection to leopard shark conservation began in 2013, through a collaboration with leading researcher Dr. Christine Dudgeon. Together, we launched the global leopard shark photo identification (ID) project, empowering divers, snorkelers, underwater photographers, and ocean lovers to help identify individual leopard sharks by their unique spot patterns.

This citizen science initiative built the first global database of leopard shark sightings, enabling researchers to track migrations, assess population trends, and detect early warning signs of decline.

Those early photos and data now inform the conservation models used in Project STAR Thailand today — proving that awareness and participation can evolve into tangible recovery efforts. What began as a grassroots education project has grown into a full-scale rehabilitation and release program.

Shark Guardian and Spot the Leopard Shark (2013)

About Project STAR Thailand

Launched in May 2025, Project STAR Thailand (Shark Training, Adaptation & Release) is a pioneering national initiative with one clear mission:to rebuild leopard shark populations, restore balance to reef ecosystems, and safeguard one of Thailand’s most iconic shark species.

The project combines ethical captive breeding, ocean-based pre-release conditioning, long-term acoustic tracking, and public education through Aquaria Phuket.

Proof That It’s Working

In September 2025, the first three leopard sharks from Project STAR Thailand were released into the wild. Since then:

• All three sharks have been detected regularly on acoustic trackers.

• Each has now survived over 50 days in the wild.

• Tracking data confirms successful ocean adaptation and natural movement.

This is a milestone moment in marine conservation — solid, data-backed proof that Thailand’s leopard shark recovery model is working.

Meet the New Generation: Maiton, Hope, Spot & Toty

The four young sharks released this week — Maiton, Hope, Spot, and Toty — are nearly two years old, measuring between 100–140 cm in length. Born and raised in Aquaria Phuket’s breeding program, they were conditioned in ocean-based enclosures where they learned vital self-foraging and survival skills before release.

Each shark was fitted with a small acoustic transmitter, allowing scientists to track their progress and adaptation in real time.

Their release brings the total number of leopard sharks successfully reintroduced in 2025 to seven individuals — a promising start to long-term species recovery.

Why “Hope” Matters

Among the four sharks, Hope has become the emblem of what Project STAR Thailand now represents — hope for species recovery, hope for restored reef ecosystems, and hope for future generations to once again encounter leopard sharks in Thai waters.

After the survival success of the first release in September, Hope’s return to the sea symbolizes the transformation of possibility into reality.

Why Leopard Sharks Matter to Thailand’s Reefs

The Indo-Pacific leopard shark (Stegostoma tigrinum) is native to the Andaman Sea and was once a familiar sight across Thailand’s dive sites. Now listed as protected wildlife, the species plays a vital ecological role by helping regulate reef biodiversity and maintain coral health.

Their presence — or absence — reflects the overall condition of the marine environment. Saving leopard sharks means saving the reefs themselves.

A Full-Circle Moment for Shark Guardian

For Shark Guardian, this release represents more than a conservation milestone — it’s a full-circle moment. From teaching divers how to photograph leopard sharks for research in 2013, to standing in Phuket in 2025 watching young sharks swim free again, this is living proof of what long-term, science-driven collaboration can achieve.

It demonstrates that education, citizen science, and cooperation can directly contribute to the recovery of an endangered species. This is what real conservation looks like: patient, data-led, and deeply connected to community.

How You Can Help

You can play an active role in leopard shark conservation — wherever you are in the world.

• Submit your past or new leopard shark photos to our global ID project

• Help researchers identify individuals and track movements

• Share this story to raise awareness

• Support ethical, science-based conservation through Shark Guardian

Your participation — and even a single image — could help shape the future of this recovering species.

Credit: WildAid / Ocean Blue Tree

Partners: DMCR, Department of Fisheries, National Parks Thailand, Aquaria Phuket, Ocean Blue Tree, Koh Mai Thon Hotel

Project: STAR