Now, Morari Bapu turns saviour for whale sharks

 

Swapna Nair

Ahmedabad, January 20: IN a bid to protect and create awareness about the thousands of Whale Sharks visiting the Gujarat coast from March to May every year, the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) and International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) launched a ‘Save the Whale Shark’ campaign on Tuesday at a press meet.

 

Morari Bapu has been chosen as the ambassador of the cause. Announcing this, the Chief Wildlife Warden of Gujarat, Pradeep Khanna, said, ‘‘We think that these creatures can be protected only if people feel from within and so we chose a man of Morari Bapu’s stature as the ambassador. I am sure he can make a difference through his discourses,’’ Khanna added.

 

‘This is the first time that a religious leader, a NGO, the forest department and corporate groups like Tata Chemicals Limited and Gujarat Heavy Chemicals Limited have come forward for a cause,’’ said Aniruddha Mukherjee, director of programmes, WTI. ‘‘Not much research has been done on the migration patterns of these sharks and the preliminary reports of TNS Mode research says that only 2% of their respondents were aware of them,’’ he added.

 

The Whale Shark, the world’s largest fish (60 feet in length and weighing 8-10 tons), is found in the tropical waters of Mexico, Honduras, Africa, Australia and Philippines apart from India (Saurashtra coastline) which it visits in large numbers (1200-2000) to breed during summers. The trading of Whale Shark was banned by the Government in May 2001 by including it in the category of endangered fish in Schedule-I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act. ‘‘However, about 150 of them are annually killed by the local fishermen for extracting oil to make their boats waterproof and the flesh is exported to countries like Korea and Japan,’’Khanna said.

 

‘‘They are human friendly fishes and a pride of Gujarat since they pay the largest congregation visit to the state every year. Therefore, they are as important as the Asiatic Lion and if protected it can give a boost to the state tourism industry,’’ he added. ‘‘Activities like nature education camps, poster camps and school-level painting competitions will be conducted, sign boards will be put up and some coast guard officers will be recognised as wardens to promote the cause,’’ Khanna informed.

 

‘‘We are glad to be a part of this movement and are committed to working with WTI to ensure a safe haven for the Whale Sharks,’’ said Raju Thakur, PRO, GHEL. ‘‘In our country, we believe in Athithi Devo Bhava and Ahimsa Paramodharma. Hence, it is our duty to protect these creatures who come from far off lands to visit us. Moreover, they come to breed here. In our country, parents take care of their pregnant daughters. Similarly, the Shark Whales are like our chldren who come to us and it is our responsibility to take care of them,’’ Morari Bapu said.

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