More than 500 school children participated in the rally which travelled through the town of Mangrol creating awareness on the whale shark. A life size inflatable of a whale shark also moved with the children.

As the rally travelled through Mangrol, school children interacted with their families and other residents informing them of the need to protect Vhali.

School children perform at the function held at Mangrol jetty. It was atteded by school children, fisher-folk and officials from Gujarat Forest Department, Tata Chemicals Ltd and Wildlife Trust of India.

Shri Morari Bapu joined hands with the campaign and told the people of Gujarat that the whale shark was like a daughter coming to her home to have her baby and killing it was a crime. This message from the religious leader helped the campaign gather tremendous support among the fishing community. The image above shows the same message being conveyed through a play at the event.

Mangrol officially adopted Vhali, the whale shark as its city mascot making it the seventh town to do so in Gujarat.

An initiative of the Gujarat Forest Department, Tata Chemicals Ltd and the Wildlife Trust of India, the Whale Shark Conservation Project completed six successful years in January 2011 with active participation from the coastal communities of Gujarat.

A girl at the rally.

Media personnel interacting with the fishing community which plays an important role in conservation of the largest fish.

Manoj Matwal, WTI explains to representatives from the media the science and tecnhology behind the whale shark conservation.