Indonesian Conservation
By: Ni Putu Ary Pratiwi
In Panjang Hiu Paus Beach Park, Tarano District, Sumbawa Regency, stands a modest building called the Whale Shark Education Center. From its terrace, a young woman wearing a hijab smiles warmly at visitors. Her name is Umi Nurdianti. For an English Education graduate, Umi's path is somewhat unusual. Instead of applying for a teaching position or working in the city, she took a different path: moving to the coastal village of Labuan Jambu, into the heart of the whale shark (Rhincodon typus) conservation movement, the gentle giants that reside in Saleh Bay.
The Whale Shark Education Center was built as a learning center for the community. It provides information about the ecological role of whale sharks and serves as an educational resource for tourists. Every day, Umi welcomes guests interested in learning more about whale sharks and the Sunda Banda ecosystem. Her introduction to this species began when she joined the Community of Young People with Insight into Aquatic Resources Management, or KAWAN Teluk Saleh. Originally from Lombok, Umi crossed to Sumbawa Island to learn with the youth community and the Indonesian Conservation team.
"I came to learn and improve my skills. I was hesitant at first, especially since I'd just graduated," he recalled. His days were filled with completely new activities: touring the village to meet the fishermen, cleaning the coast, going out to sea to monitor the situation, participating in MSME surveys, and interviewing tourists. He also received snorkeling training to get closer to the whale shark habitat. "Everything felt new, but fun. Learning about whale sharks was really exciting. I usually focus on human behavior, but now I'm studying whale shark behavior," he said with a chuckle.
Slowly, from a social issues facilitator, Umi transformed into a conservation educator. Her background in languages proved invaluable. Interacting with foreign tourists required her to improve her speaking skills and hone her public speaking skills. Her parents were initially concerned when she frequently ventured out to sea, but their support kept her going. "I was worried it wouldn't live up to expectations. But my parents supported me, even though they were sometimes worried," she said.
Umi said that she dreams that this education center will grow into a learning space with a strong identity, have regular programs, and be active on social media to educate a wider community.
Umi's hopes align with the vision of Conservation Indonesia. The Whale Shark Education Center in Saleh Bay is expected to become a center of excellence for whale sharks in Indonesia, an educational resource that inspires tourists from both within and outside the country.
By mid-2025, over a thousand visitors had been recorded at this Education Center. The majority were schoolchildren, enthusiastic about experiencing new things through virtual reality (VR) technology. There were also fun facts, a whale shark animation, and a reading corner to enhance the learning experience.
Umi still has a long way to go before she can make a greater contribution to the world of conservation. However, she believes her small steps in Saleh Bay will bear great fruit. From the classroom to the sea, from discussions on children's rights to whale shark conservation, Umi continues to hone her skills to rewrite the meaning of learning with a full heart and unwavering hope.
