Fishers from Poonthura rescuing a whale shark
It was supposed to be a regular fishing day off the coast of Malappuram, but as Abdul Salam and his crew hauled their ring net, they noticed it refused to rise properly. Submerged below the surface was a rare sight -- a massive whale shark entangled in the meshes.Recognising the endangered creature, the fishers immediately launched a delicate two-hour operation, carefully untangling the giant by cutting open the net and guiding it back into open waters. That selfless act marked the first recorded rescue and release of a whale shark in Kerala — a story now chronicled alongside dozens of others in ‘Guardians of the Gentle Giants: A Tribute to Kerala’s Whale Shark Rescuers’, a new book published by the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI).Authored by Jithin Jose alongside a team of six others, the book documents 54 successful rescue operations conducted by Keralam’s fishing community since 2017. The publication serves as a tribute to coastal communities whose quick thinking and compassion have given the world’s largest fish a vital lifeline. In another incident off the coast of Thiruvananthapuram, fisher Mohammad Maheen and his crew spent over three hours freeing a whale shark from a shore seine net. “When we first tried to control the net, three of my crew members were injured. My priority was keeping my men safe while making sure we didn’t cause any more harm to the shark,” Maheen recalls.Conservation projectOnce hunted extensively along the Indian coastline, the whale shark (Rhincodon typus) faced a perilous future until WTI launched the Whale Shark Conservation Project across Keralam and Lakshadweep in 2017. Moving beyond simple awareness drives, the project established a holistic model engaging fishers, harbour management committees, schools, local self-governments and State departments.“Over 200 training sessions have been conducted to educate local communities on the biology of these gentle giants — which are cold-blooded, Schedule I protected fish under India’s Wildlife Protection Act. The book also doubles as a practical guide, featuring a standing response manual that details immediate reporting steps and emergency protocols during entanglements,” says Jithin Jose.Choosing to rescue a trapped whale shark demands immense economic sacrifice from fishing families dependent on daily catches. To safely release the animals, fishers often have to cut open their nets. “Cutting open a net often costs fishers a full day’s catch, and fixing the resulting damage means losing several working days. Releasing a whale shark takes more than just knowing it is protected; it requires real courage, deep empathy, and a willingness to put the creature’s survival above personal financial gain,” explains Sajan John, marine projects head of WTI.While WTI currently offers ₹25,000 as a reward, this amount falls short of covering total losses, prompting ongoing efforts to secure additional financial relief from the State government. “It is the quiet, everyday decisions of local communities—like fishers choosing to cut their nets to save a helpless creature—that turn abstract environmental goals into meaningful action. Ensuring fair and prompt compensation for damaged nets is essential to protect fishers’ livelihoods and ensure they can afford to keep saving these endangered giants,” he adds. Published - August 30, 2026 07:10 am IST
