New study finds that working in wildlife tourism can act as an incentive for the conservation of marine species

Philippines. 22 March 2021, A new study by researchers from the University of Victoria (CA) and Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines has found that working in wildlife tourism can act as an incentive for the conservation of marine species. Community-based whale shark tourism workers had more protectionist views, recognising the inherent value of wildlife, and were more likely to report positive changes in their attitudes and behaviours to protect whale sharks.

Baby whale shark discovery indicates Donsol and the Ticao-Burias Pass are important reproductive habitats for the endangered whale shark

Philippines, November 2020, A new scientific publication from LAMAVE and BFAR Region 5 reports the importance of Donsol and the Ticao-Burias Pass as a likely pupping ground and nursery area for the endangered whale shark.

Collaborative efforts highlight the long-distance movements of whale sharks in the Sulu-Sulawesi Marine Ecoregion

The whale shark is a highly mobile species, broadly distributed, that can cross boundaries without anyone realising. A recent study in the Philippines highlighted the movement of whale sharks between one site in Palawan, and Malaysia and Indonesia. These results also highlighted the utility of the general public in collecting data for research programmes.

Whale sharks: what science reveals

We round up eight years of LAMAVE’s research on the iconic whale shark. The whale shark – also called butanding, tuki, tiki tiki, tawiki in local dialects - is a national icon of the Philippines. As we reach the end of 2019 and almost 8 years since LAMAVE first started studying whale sharks in the Philippines, we round up what we have learnt about these incredible sharks…

Whale sharks on the move in Southeast Asia highlight the need for further collaboration in the conservation of the species

Whale sharks tracked moving between the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia. For the first time researchers from Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines have tracked whale sharks moving between the Philippines and Malaysia, and Indonesia, using satellite tags, photo-identification and citizen science…

Ecology: Sharks under threat from fisheries

A new study published in Nature, International Journal of Science revealed that around one quarter of the habitats of oceanic sharks fall within active fishing zones, which may threaten these iconic ocean predators. The study spearheaded by David Sims and colleagues, brought together 1500+ satellite tracks globally from 150 scientists, including LAMAVE, and demonstrates an urgent need for conservation efforts to protect pelagic sharks, which reported to be in decline.

Philippines officially hosts world’s second largest known population of whale sharks

Philippines, March 3, 2019, The Philippines officially hosts the second-largest known population of whale sharks in the world according to Wildbook for Whale Sharks, a global online population catalogue used by scientists and the public. The Philippine population total, which now stands at >1,600 individual whale sharks…

Donsol attracts the Philippines largest whale sharks

A new scientific study by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines and Large Marine Vertebrate Research Institute Philippines (LAMAVE) has revealed that whale sharks in Donsol, Philippines are uncharacteristically larger than those found elsewhere in the Philippines…

Scientific study takes a deeper look into the reproduction of mobulid rays in the Philippines

A new scientific publication by Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines (LAMAVE) was lead by researcher Joshua Rambahiniarison and aimed to determine life history and reproductive parameters for several mobulids caught in the Philippines to provide vital information on the sustainability of the exploitation and consumptive use of these megafauna, at the country level and worldwide.

Satellite tag study reveals Philippine waters are incredibly important for endangered whale sharks

A new scientific study by Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines (LAMAVE), Marine Megafauna Foundation (MMF) and Tubbataha Management Office (TMO) on satellite tracking juvenile whale sharks in the Philippines has been published in the journal Peer J. To date, it is the most complete tracking study of whale sharks in the country, with satellite tags deployed on different individuals in multiple sites.

Scientists in the Philippines tag the biggest tiger shark so far

Puerto Princesa, Philippines, June 12, 2018 – Scientists from Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines (LAMAVE), Tubbataha Management Office (TMO) and Marine Megafauna Foundation (MMF) have successfully tagged a 3.5-meter tiger shark and three grey reef sharks as part of a long-term study in Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park.

Scientists film the first ever live encounter of the rare and Endangered Ornate Eagle Ray in the Philippines

An encounter with the rare and Endangered Ornate Eagle Ray by researchers from LAMAVE and WWF on an expedition to Cagayancillio, has been reported as the first-ever live encounter with the species in Philippine waters, expanding its current known range.

New study reveals the global biology of whale sharks

A new study explores how citizen science has contributed to our understanding of the basic biology and ecology of the whale shark on a global scale. The study led by Dr Brad Norman was a collaborative effort of 38 scientists, including LAMAVE Executive Directors Dr Alessandro Ponzo and Gonzalo Araujo, as well as David David and Elson Aca from WWF-Philippines.

1000th Whale Shark Identified in Philippine Waters

The 1000th whale shark has been identified in Philippine waters, making the Philippines the third largest known aggregation of whale sharks in the world and the biggest in South East Asia, according to the online library Wildbook for whale sharks.

Researchers tag the first tiger shark in the coral triangle in ground breaking research in Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park

Researchers from the Tubbataha Management Office (TMO) and Philippine-based marine conservation NGO the Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines (LAMAVE) have deployed the first ever satellite tag on a tiger shark in the Philippines…

Research Unites: Taiwan Whale Shark Seen in the Philippines Becomes First International Photographic Match in Asia

P-545 known as “Pasipiko” is the first whale shark in Asia to have been identified in 2 different countries. This whale shark was caught in a fishing net in Taiwan in 2012 and successfully released. Less than one year later “Pasipiko” was photographed by the researchers of the Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines (LAMAVE) in the waters of Southern Leyte. P545 made a 1600km+ journey between countries…