Himanshu Kaushik[1], TNN | Aug 30, 2014, 08.01AM ISTPage 1 of 4 AHMEDABAD: Contrary to popular belief that whale sharks found on Saurashtra coast in Gujarat are migrants from Australia, it has been documented that the largest known extant fish species are no expats — they are local residents of Indian Ocean. A path-breaking study conducted by satellite tagging of whale sharks by Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) and the Gujarat forest department two years back has revealed that these whale sharks travel from Porbandar coast in Saurashtra to Lakshwadeep down south in Puducherry via Mumbai. The study was conducted as part of the whale shark conservation programme undertaken by WTI and the forest department after it was established that 1,200 whale sharks were poached for their oil and fins that are widely used for making exotic medicines. Vivek Menon, executive director and CEO of WTI, said, "Whale sharks keep moving from the Saurashtra coast to Lakshwadeep and back. They do not venture to any foreign shores. The movement of these mammals is mainly chasing their food which is small fish." Revered kathakar Morari Bapu was roped in for whale shark conservation whose emotional appeal not to kill whale sharks as they were like pregnant daughters coming home to deliver a child touched many chords and poaching and killing of whale sharks is now reported to negligible levels. This was said believing that whale sharks came to the Saurashtra coast from Australia for breeding. In fact, a genetic study of the whale sharks found along Gujarat coast and those found in Australia that was conducted simultaneously has revealed that the two do not share any genes."Whale sharks are more commonly found in Australia and Africa. We have come to the conclusion that Australian and Indian whale sharks do not share a gene pool. We will soon study African whale sharks."
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- ^ Himanshu Kaushik (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
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