Whale Shark Tracker

(Rhincodon typus). Whale sharks are the world’s largest fish and like all sharks are endangered.

It’s Conservation International’s pleasure to announce the launch of a webpage that tracks in real-time whale sharks that were tagged in the Bird’s Head Seascape by Dr. Mark Erdmann’s team. Click here for the Whale Shark Tracker

 This app’s map is clickable and shows the path of ten whale sharks over the past 60 days. As the fin-mounted tags transmit data to satellites, their locations – after an intentional 24 hour delay – will be updated automatically on this page.

 Another app feature is the “Who’s Who” carousel, which displays images of each individual shark and includes dynamic content like when the shark last reported data, and the distance from its previous location. This is outstanding content.

Additionally the app invites visitors to name certain sharks.

Click over to the app and begin tracking your favorite shark!

Cenderawasih Bay in Papua, Indonesia. The sharks are attracted to the local fishing boats called bagans where they are hand feed by the fishermen.

Read the latest Conservation International blog on the partnership between CI and the Georgia Aquarium to further expand scientific knowledge of the world’s largest fish.

This was a large team effort.

Thank you:

• Mark for pioneering this research and working with Megan to give us so much of your time over the past two months
• Alex for cracking the Wildlife Computers API that collects these data to develop this amazing map
• Daniel and Tatianna for the build-out
• Blythe and Amy for the UX and design input
• Bruno, Molly and Sophie for turning around edits in record time
• Maureen and Sarah for social insights and text
• Kevin and Chase for your patience as we made sure we got this page right
• The management and guests of the True North expedition vessel for their generous sponsorship and ongoing support for our whale shark satellite tagging program in the Bird’s Head Seascape
• OceanMax in New Zealand for their continued sponsorship of the tagging program through provisioning of “Propspeed” silicone foul release coating for the satellite tags