This report highlights the plight and protection of the whale shark, the world’s largest fish. Once heavily hunted along India’s Gujarat coast, these gentle giants gained legal protection in 2001 under the Wild Life (Protection) Act,1972.

Spearheaded by the Wildlife Trust of India, the Whale Shark Conservation Project initiated a groundbreaking public-private effort to transform local fishers from hunters into protectors—resulting in the voluntary release of over 1,000 whale sharks. A detailed coastal survey conducted across nine states identified five new aggregation zones and provided vital insights into whale shark ecology, threats, and community awareness. Today, new conservation efforts across Gujarat, Kerala and Lakshadweep are helping secure a hopeful future for this iconic species along India’s coastline.