Volume 25, Issue 76, July - December, 2024

Occurrence of whale sharks along the Indian coastline: Challenges and conservation efforts

Yogesh Kumar JS^1♦, Sen A¹, Arun G², Raghunathan C³

¹Zoological Survey of India, Sunderban Regional Centre, Canning – 743329, West Bengal, India
²National Centre for Coastal Research, 2nd Floor, NIOT Campus, Pallikaranai, Chennai-600100, Tamil Nadu
³Zoological Survey of India, M-Block, New Alipore, Kolkata – 700053, West Bengal, India

^♦Corresponding Author
Zoological Survey of India, Sunderban Regional Centre, Canning – 743329, West Bengal, India

ABSTRACT

Although endangered, whale sharks are found worldwide in warm water regions. Their continued existence depends entirely on conservation efforts. In the current study, a whale shark sighting was recorded off the coast of Andhra Pradesh along the east coast of India during a marine faunal assessment in the area. To assess the current habitat range of this species and increase awareness for future conservation efforts along the east coast of India, where conservation initiatives are lacking, a comprehensive review of whale shark sightings and their status has been conducted. This review utilizes existing literature sources covering the Indian coastline over the past decade.

Keywords: Conservation, East-coast, India, Rhincodon typus, Whale Shark

Species, 2024, 25(76), e39s1711

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi.v25i76.e39s1711

Published: 27 August 2024