Whale sharks in the warm waters of Madagascar

The warm waters of Madagascar are beautiful refuges for whale sharks. Let's forget the clownfish and the sea turtles. Let's focus on these big marine mammals that also populate our seas. According to the collaborative project conducted by Madagascar Whale Shark Project since 2015, our big blues identify up to 300 whale sharks, concentrated mainly in the northwestern part of the island.

It is no longer a discovery but rather an absolute reality. The Malagasy seas, especially those in the northwest, are the best shelter for hundreds whale sharks. According to the census, it is the "thousand stars" species called in Malagasy "maro kintana" which are the most identified. This name has been attributed because of their skin full of white dots resembling stars in the firmament.

Harmless whale sharks seducing tourists

Safe for humans, these whale sharks measure more than 18m and attract researchers by their way of feeding. Indeed, when they eat, they ingest more than 600000 liters of water that they filter quickly with its gills to keep in the mouth only small fish and zooplankton. These elements form their main foods, which they need to swallow every hour for a full daily ration.

Note that these whale sharks come to feed in Malagasy waters seasonally. When they are there, the tourists are also present to observe them and to swim near them.

According to the initiator of the collaborative project, the presence of these mammals is very beneficial for the Malagasy tourism sector. The seas of Nosy Be are today considered one of the most valuable whale shark reserves in the world. To preserve the species and offer a quieter life, away from stress, a law was adopted by the island of Nosy Be: limit the number of boats around the place of concentration, and invite tourists to dive in a defined number to better observe them calmly.