Conservationist and marine biologist Brad Norman has pointed to some good news about whale sharks in a new report revealing the results of a 12-year study.
There have been so many reports lately of the global population of whale sharks declining - and this still remains the case - but the great news for Ningaloo is that our whale sharks are thriving. As Brad puts it: “The study suggests that the management practices at Ningaloo are working for the whale shark.” Conservation is paying off.
All of this means you can come to Ningaloo and swim with the whale sharks with the confidence of knowing these stunning creatures are being protected - and that Brad is committed to making the knowledge gained at Ningaloo available to other parts of the world embarking on whale conservation projects.
Brad’s work with Ecocean has won him several awards, and the site is worth a browse for anyone interested in whale sharks.
You can also contribute your photos to Ecocean’s identification library - you never know, your whale shark may be one that no one else has yet photographed.
The word is rapidly spreading around the world about the Ningaloo whale sharks, with recent Internet news coverage giving us a global spotlight.
When we were declared national winner of the PublicityShip Hidden Jewel Awards, we received a publicity campaign as part of our prize.
One of the results was dialogue with the travel editors of the global news site, www.about.com, who were interested to find out more about Ningaloo and the whale sharks.
We thought nothing more of it until yesterday, when we were alerted to this fantastic article!
We’re so delighted to see this kind of global internet coverage for our beautiful region and magnificent whale sharks. The word is rapidly spreading and what’s great about this is we don’t have to advertise. The message gets out there because people are genuinely fascinated by the experience of swimming with the biggest fish in the sea.
By the October school holidays we had already received lots of requests for Christmas gift vouchers for our Whale Shark Ecotours. We have fabulous gift vouchers - a great way to give someone a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
This also got me thinking about Christmas here in Exmouth.
The high temperatures can sometimes deter Australian visitors from coming to the area in December, but it’s actually my favourite time of the year - outside whale shark season of course. And Europeans love it at this time.
There’s no denying it’s hot! But we have beautiful days in or on the ocean, and stunning balmy nights perfect for unwinding with a chilled glass of wine.
There are heaps of turtles around too, as this is their breeding season. You can watch them mate and try to spot them laying their eggs - breathtaking.
So if you’re looking for a seriously relaxing Christmas holiday, Ningaloo’s a good choice, and we can help with accommodation suggestions. But if it’s the whale sharks you’re after, contact us for a gift voucher or to book ahead.
