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    • Scientific Research

    Using science to better protect endangered species

    Science as a tool for conservation

    The Madagascar Whale Shark Project’s main scientific objective is to establish the occurrence, residency, and population structure of whale sharks off Nosy Be, Madagascar.

     

    This is achieved through the collection of standardised sighting data, such as the GPS location, size and gender of all individuals, coupled with photo-identification for every encountered shark. We also collect small skin samples to examine diet and movements using biochemical markers (stable isotopes and fatty acids), along with population genetics and genomics studies, collaborating with multiple scientific institutions. We are also tracking movements through satellite and acoustic tags.

    Our focus

    Population Size and Structure

    Thanks to dedicated photo-identification efforts we can infer population size and structure.

    Movements and Residency

    Thanks to the combination of satellite and acoustic tags, photo-identification and genetics we are starting to better understand movements and residency patterns of the Nosy Be population.

    Socio-economic-value

    Through interviews with tourists and operators we are quantifying the socio-economic value of live whale sharks as an economic asset to Madagascar’s economy, another argument for protecting their habitat.

    Feeding ecology

    Through collaborations with specialized teams and sampling we are trying to better understand the drivers of whale shark presence: the food sources they rely upon.

    Marine megafauna

    Through our trips we also record species name and GPS location for each encountered marine megafauna species, with the aim to grow a species list.

    Whale shark photo-identification

    A unique non-invasive global conservation effort

    Our team collects photo-identification data for each encountered whale shark, which is then analysed through a unique algorithm adapted from NASA’s star-mapping telescopes. Photos of whale shark spot patterns (left-side) are collected throughout the Indian Ocean, and further afield, then are uploaded onto a global online database of whale shark sightings (www.whaleshark.org). This enables us to investigate the connectivity of Madagascar to other regional aggregations through the movements of individual sharks. So far, we have identified more than 525 individual juvenile whale sharks; yet, none of these individuals have been spotted elsewhere in the world.

     

    Through this work, we provide information necessary for appropriate management measures in Madagascar and the Western Indian Ocean through publications and data sharing.

    Want to contribute data as a citizen scientist?

    You can send your photo to science@madawhalesharks.org or fill the form bellow, indicating the exact date of the encounter, and we will add them to our database.

      539 identified whale sharks

      Scientific publications

      Diamant et al. 2025

      Sequeira et al. 2025

      Diamant et al. 2025

      Womersley et al. 2024

      Reynolds et al. 2024

      Womersley et al. 2024

      Diamant et al. 2022

      Araujo et al. 2022

      Womersley et al. 2022

      Reynolds et al. 2021

      Diamant et al. 2021

      Ziegler et al. 2021

      Diamant et al. 2018

      Diamant et al. 2016

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