Konservasi Indonesia
Whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) are ecologically significant marine megafauna that are consistently recorded in Saleh Bay, Sumbawa, West Nusa Tenggara—one of Indonesia’s national priority sites under the Whale Shark National Plan of Action. Despite being legally protected at the national level and classified globally as Endangered, substantial historical data gaps have constrained a comprehensive understanding of population structure, residency patterns, and long-term conservation requirements in this region. This report presents a robust assessment of the whale shark population in Saleh Bay, drawing on long-term monitoring data collected through collaborative research and standardized photo-identification surveys up to 2025. The assessment is supported by an extensive individual identification database compiled from key aggregation areas within Saleh Bay. A total of 174 individual whale sharks has been identified, highlighting the bay as a critical habitat supporting a relatively large and regionally important population in Indonesia. Data collection followed standardized photo-identification protocols and Citizen science.
This integrated approach enables long-term individual tracking and provides a strong foundation for evaluating population dynamics. Population structure analysis reveals a strongly male-biased aggregation. Of all identified individuals, 137 sharks (79%) were confirmed as males, while only 16 individuals (9%) were identified as females, and 21 individuals (12%) the sex is unidentified. This pronounced skew suggests that Saleh Bay primarily functions as a habitat for juvenile and subadult males, likely exhibiting high site fidelity to predictable coastal feeding areas.
Although whale shark aggregations in Saleh Bay appear to be persistent, the population faces several conservation challenges. A strong ecological association with lift-net fisheries (bagan) may promote behavioural dependency and increase the frequency of human–wildlife interactions. Additionally, growing tourism activities, pollution from land, and local fishing pressure may alter habitat use and natural behaviour if not effectively managed. The limited occurrence of females and mature individuals further indicates critical knowledge gaps regarding population connectivity and reproductive ecology at broader spatial scales.
Overall, the 2025 assessment confirms that Saleh Bay supports one of the most consistently monitored and ecologically significant whale shark populations in Indonesia and likely plays an important role within the Lesser Sunda regional network. These findings underscore the need for sustained investment in science-based management, strengthened long-term monitoring, and adaptive conservation strategies to ensure population persistence while maintaining the ecological and socio-economic benefits associated with whale shark presence in the region.
