KENYA: Whale shark census underway along Kenya's coast

Record ID: 361593

  • Title: KENYA: Whale shark census underway along Kenya's coast
  • Date: 21st February 2008
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) EXPEDITION SPOKESMAN, VOLKER BASSEN, SAYING: "We had five whale sharks sighted and we managed to tag two today with satellite tags. Last year, we tagged three with satellite tags under three consecutive days. Today, two in one day so it's definitely a record."
  • Embargoed: 7th March 2008 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kenya
  • Country: Kenya
  • Topics: Environment / Natural World,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVA17P5YKCJIXO8V5BAU0NWAYIZ6
  • Story Text: Kenya hosts this year's whale shark expedition, where scientists will conduct a census of the country's whale shark population in a bid to protect the world's largest fish from further hunting.
    Kenya's south coast is hosting the two-week "Whale Shark Expedition 2008".
    The researchers together with underwater videographers from Europe arrived on Monday (February 18) for their annual whale shark tagging initiative.
    A total of 19 state-of-the-art satellite tags have been donated by private sponsors for the exercise.
    The satellite tags are attached to the whale shark using a sling-type Hawaiian spear-gun. The tags are attached as deep as possible into the whale shark's skin. These sharks have the thickest skin in the animal world, up to 15 centimetres.
    Expedition spokesman, Volker Bassen said this year's event was already proving to be more successful than previous years.

    "We had five whale sharks sighted and we managed to tag two today with satellite tags. Last year, we tagged three with satellite tags under three consecutive days. Today, two in one day so it's definitely a record," said Bassen.
    The tags are programmed to fall from the shark after a specific period, usually around six to nine months. The data is then transmitted via satellite.
    Data includes date, time, dive profile, ambient light, ambient pressure, location - every time the shark surfaces, salinity levels and temperature.
    Whale sharks are hunted globally for their valuable fins and liver and it is hoped that this year's event will help in advancing protection measures for the world's largest fish.
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