Maldives Whale Shark Research

Maldives Whale Shark Research Maldives Whale Shark Research (MWSR) is a Maldivian NGO conducting research and conservation initiatives within the Maldives.

The Maldives Whale Shark Research (MWSR) is an NGO that exists to conduct whale shark research projects and to foster community focused conservation initiatives within the Maldives. Our goal is simple: we seek to advance the field of whale shark knowledge and to advocate for sound conservation policy in the Maldives. By encouraging and valuing community and industry stakeholder participation, we a

re able to leverage scientific research to safeguard the rich biodiversity and fragile marine ecosystems that are the basis for not only whale sharks, but also life, livelihood and culture in the Maldives.

World Whale Shark Day 2026 is fast approaching, so we’re kicking off the week with our Whale Shark Naming Competition to...
24/08/2026

World Whale Shark Day 2026 is fast approaching, so we’re kicking off the week with our Whale Shark Naming Competition to Celebrate! 🥳

Simple follow the rules in the next slide to enter!

Good luck everyone! We can’t wait to see your suggestions 🩵

competition

🌊 World Whale Shark Day is fast approaching! 🦈To celebrate these incredible giants of the ocean, we’re launching our Wha...
24/08/2026

🌊 World Whale Shark Day is fast approaching! 🦈

To celebrate these incredible giants of the ocean, we’re launching our Whale Shark Naming Competition! 🎉

Think you have the perfect name for a whale shark? Now’s your chance! Simply follow the rules on the next slide to enter 👀

Good luck everyone - we can’t wait to see your suggestions! 🩵

Gliding through the blue 🌊🩵WS823 Sultan in his element…📷: Shfxaan • Ocean
19/08/2026

Gliding through the blue 🌊🩵

WS823 Sultan in his element…

📷: Shfxaan • Ocean

Meet our newest whale sharks! 🦈💙Since reaching a major milestone earlier this year - 900 individual whale sharks in our ...
17/08/2026

Meet our newest whale sharks! 🦈💙

Since reaching a major milestone earlier this year - 900 individual whale sharks in our database - we’ve been thrilled to welcome even more new faces (or fins!) to the MWSR family.

Since May, we’ve been encountering a surprisingly high number of smaller, younger whale sharks in across the archipelago. These encounters have been a particularly exciting reminder of just how much there is still to discover about this incredible population.

So, we thought it was time to introduce you to a few of our newest additions… 👀

Have you encountered any of our newbies?

sharkresearch

02/08/2026

Whale shark encounters are unforgettable… yes.

But let’s make sure they stay that way.

This is WS337 Shaiban. From one angle, he looks like the picture of health. From another, a severe propellor injury tells a very different story.

Every responsible decision on the water matters. Slowing down in whale shark areas, giving sharks space, and fitting propellor guards can all help reduce the risk of collisions.

These animals bring so much wonder to so many people. It’s up to all of us to ensure future encounters are remembered for the right reasons - not for the injuries we leave behind.

📷: .mv

The Big Fish Network is Back Online! 🦈To our existing contributors, thank you so much for your patience whilst we have w...
29/07/2026

The Big Fish Network is Back Online! 🦈

To our existing contributors, thank you so much for your patience whilst we have worked hard to restore the platform. We can’t wait to welcome you back!

And to anyone interested in joining our community, please drop us a DM or email at any time. We would love to have you on board! 🩵

The Big Fish Network is Back Online! 🦈
29/07/2026

The Big Fish Network is Back Online! 🦈

18/07/2026

☁️ Above VS Below 🌊

Join us for a coffee and a chat at Family Room Coffee in celebration of sharks as part of the upcoming Shark Awareness D...
13/07/2026

Join us for a coffee and a chat at Family Room Coffee in celebration of sharks as part of the upcoming Shark Awareness Day and Shark month! 🦈

This small event will start at 2 pm and last until 6 pm on Wednesday 15th of July. If you an early career scientist or just an interested member of the public, we welcome you to attend ☕️

04/07/2026

🐆🦈 Did you know leopard sharks are one of the closest living relatives to whale sharks?

This is a leopard shark (Stegostoma tigrinum), a species that belongs to the same order of sharks as the whale shark (Rhincodon typus).

Despite the huge difference in size, both species share a common evolutionary history as members of the carpet shark group (Orectolobiformes). They even share some familiar features, including distinctive spot patterns and highly developed sensory systems used to locate prey.

While whale sharks evolved into gentle giants that filter-feed on plankton, leopard sharks remained active predators, hunting along coral reefs and sandy seabeds.

A reminder that even the ocean’s largest fish started with the same evolutionary roots as some much smaller shark species we see on reefs today.

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