Successful Rescue of Stranded Whale Shark Highlights Need for Saleh Bay Protection

The recent successful extrication of a large whale shark from a stranded position near Pulau Satonda in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) has underscored the ongoing necessity for robust marine conservation strategies in the region. The incident, which occurred on January 16, 2026, involved a juvenile specimen approximately seven meters in length. Its rescue was achieved through the swift mobilization and cooperation between local inhabitants and the NTB Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), with the animal successfully guided back into deeper oceanic currents the following morning, January 17, 2026.

Saleh Bay is recognized for its profound ecological significance, with scientific evidence suggesting it functions as an early nursery ground for these massive filter feeders. This hypothesis is supported by prior documentation of calves measuring between 135 to 145 centimeters in the area, a size class rarely observed globally, indicating the bay provides crucial refuge and sustenance for the earliest life stages of the whale shark population. This incident highlights the dual identity of Saleh Bay as both a critical ecological zone and an emerging center for marine tourism, a sector that presents both economic opportunity and ecological risk.

In response to these ecological pressures, the NTB Provincial Government has advanced a proposal to legally secure the area as a biota-based conservation zone, encompassing approximately 1,459 square kilometers. Effective governance of this proposed zone will require precise zoning demarcations to segregate core conservation sanctuaries from areas designated for limited utilization, aiming to mitigate escalating threats such as pollution and increased vessel traffic. Saleh Bay hosts the second-largest recorded whale shark population in Indonesia, following Cendrawasih Bay, with 108 individuals documented between 2017 and 2022 by Yayasan Konservasi Indonesia.

Data indicates a strong fidelity to the area, as 77 percent of these documented sharks return multiple times over a five-to-six-year period, sometimes up to ten times, often feeding on rebon shrimp dependent on the bay's healthy mangrove ecosystem. The rescue operation demonstrated the efficacy of integrating local expertise with institutional response, confirming that societal engagement is paramount for proactive marine stewardship. This collaborative spirit is essential as the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries reviews its National Action Plan (RAN) for Whale Shark Conservation, with the 2026–2029 strategy prioritizing wildlife-friendly tourism standards and enhanced stranding response.

Research further indicates that human activity, specifically collisions with traditional fishing platforms known as 'bagans' and tour boats, constitutes the primary cause of injuries observed on Indonesian whale sharks. Fishermen in the area, often referred to as the 'eyes of researchers at sea,' play an indispensable role in documenting these rare early-life sightings, which are otherwise difficult to capture through conventional scientific surveys. The confirmation of a neonatal presence in Saleh Bay strengthens the scientific basis for its official protection, potentially establishing it as the first definitively identified pupping ground globally should further research confirm regular birthing activity.