The endangered zebra sharks Papua or hiu belimbing are amazing creatures due to their beauty and friendliness to humans. The population of these sharks in Raja Ampat, Papua, has dramatically declined due to shark finning and the degradation in its habitat.
Thus, the Indonesian government committed to recovering these gorgeous animals with the help of other entities and international organizations.
StAR Papua projects (Stegostoma tigrinum Augmentation and Recovery) are established in order to achieve the goal. This program is a rewilding project in order to regenerate the healthy zebra shark population in Raja Ampat. Zebra sharks’ healthy population is crucial due to its role in maintaining the ecosystem in their origin area in Raja Ampat Papua.
A Brief on StAR Papua Project
Indonesia’s StAR project PIC is Prof. Dr. Charlie D. Heatubun, the head of BRIDA (Regional Research and Innovation Agency). He said that the project uses an innovative approach to reestablish the zebra shark population in Raja Ampat.
The project starts with seven genetically proper zebra sharks’ eggs arriving in Sorong, Papua, in August 2022. Then, local nurseries i.eRaja Ampat Research and Conservation Center (RRARCC), will hand-fed these eggs so that they can release them at the right time.
Previously, these eggs have to travel overseas before arriving in Indonesia because they are laid in zoological care. There are a number of qualified aquariums and zoos due to their success in breeding these Zebra sharks while establishing a healthy, genetically diverse, and balanced population.
SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium in Australia offers its facility so the eggs can finally arrive in Papua.
The Releases of Three Juvenile Zebra Sharks
The program succeeded by hatching three eggs named Charlie, Audrey, and Kathlyn. Thus, they will release these juvenile sharks in Wayag Lagoon in the Wayag Island area upon reaching the proper age.
The government chose Wayag Island due to its ecosystem, where diverse manta and sharks widely live. This area is also the spot for growing manta reefs, so the waters here are under the government’s protection. In fact, this is the conservation area under the supervision of BKKPN Kupang so that the zebra shark habitat will be safeguarded.
The juvenile sharks have reached 70 cm long and weigh more than 800 grams, so they meet the qualifications for a release, according to the International Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
They released Charlie and Kathlyn on 13 January 2023 and Audrey on 13 February 2023, witnessed by all StAR partners and the Kawe community. They released Charlie on the white beach within the lagoon while releasing Audrey on the sandy beach at the entrance of Wayag lagoon.
A Special Event
The Kawe community held a traditional ceremony as a symbol of their request to the ancestors so they will help protect and guard the released sharks. The ceremony not only becomes the symbol of support from the local community for the program but also honors the lagoon as the new habitat for the sharks,
This event is even more special because one of Hollywood’s famous actors, Harrison Ford, was there to witness the release. He appreciates the hard work of all partners in preserving the zebra sharks so they can reproduce well.
Conclusion
The Indonesian StAR PIC, Charlie, said that the zebra shark’s release in Wayag Lagoon, Papua is an effort to conserve such gorgeous animals from extinction. Thus, the next generations can also witness them and see them thrive. Charlie also confirms that they will keep on monitoring the three sharks so they can use the data for future projects.
Let’s hope that the three zebra sharks Papua: Audrey, Kathlyn, and Charlie, can live longer and reproduce so that someday they will multiply and add to the beauty of Raja Ampat waters.
