Why do we take photos? Is beauty the only value of beauty photography? Can we use our devices and talents to make something with a deep purpose? Although there are people who may disagree, fairly, our planet is in trouble. Let’s consider, then, can the photography save the world. I’m going to start with my oceans, where I will consider exclusively Galapagos whale shark project And its goals to understand and protect whale sharks. I want to think that photography can help save the world.
So big, so endangered
Whale sharks are the largest fish in our oceans and the largest non-whale animal on the planet. Whale sharks are largely, grow up to 62 feet and weigh more than 40,000 pounds. Whale shark is currently listed as endangered. Researchers estimate that the oceans have only 100,000 to 200,000 whale sharks left, there is a decrease of about 50% in the last 75 years.
What threatens whale shark?
Despite the fact that whale shark fishing is restricted globally, whale sharks are actively fishing for food by industrially fishing fleet. These fleants float outside the marine protected areas, enticing the fish using the fish collecting devices.
Whale shark meat, gills and liver have high demand for products ranging from cosmetics to dietary supplements. In addition to targeted fishing, whale sharks are also victims of bacatch. Gilanane and purse scenes often scoop whale sharks with prized crops such as tuna. Although fishermen need to confuse whale sharks, retention and later illegal trade is a very serious problem.
How can photography help?
So how can the photography help to save whale sharks? First, photography whale is an important tool for identifying and listing sharks. Photography contributes to our knowledge of whale shark, which in turn contributes to our ability to protect them.
Second, if photographers care about whale sharks, they are ready to spend money on travel or donations that benefit whale sharks. Photos taken on these trips increase the profile of whale shark, which provide more protection in turn. Money -making animals are a permanent resource that is often protected by interested governments.
Directly help
Organizations such as Galapagos Whale shark projects, passively use the photo identity to track tag and whale shark. Satellite tagging can be very difficult and expensive.
There are more than 700 individual whales sharks that travel to Galapagos every year. Each of these fish is not possible to tag and track. For example, one of the recent annual reports of the Galapagos Whale Shark Project notes that a total of 12 individual whale sharks were seen during 35 dives, successfully tagged using splash10-346 fin-mounted satellite tags with 6 sharks. Tagging 6 out of 700 whale sharks in the open ocean is a monumental achievement, but this success rate is unlikely to collect enough data for governments to persuade the sea reserves. At the top of the sheer number of whale shark, the satellite tag has limited battery life. It would not be possible to depend just on tracking each of these animals from Galapagos where they spend their time. The Galapagos Whale shark project also reports that other, small sharks have been seen targeting satellite tags, which collide and rub strange looking equipment. No wonder these tags often stop transmitting.
To collect data in such a wild environment, organizations such as galapagos whale shark projects use photo IDs. Whale shark spots are like a fingerprint. By depositing images Wildbook for Shark – Global Whale Shark Data BasePhotographers and civil scientists can actually help scientists and researchers to gain a deeper understanding of these soft veterans.
For example, a photographer can take pictures of a whale shark when applying a dive into Galapagos that will later make a dive and photograph in Mexico or Madagascar. Our imagined photographer must have taken these pictures only because they love underwater photography and prefer to capture animals under huge water in their natural environment. By taking additional steps to upload images on the data site, photographer will help researchers better understand whale sharks. Understanding the movement of whale sharks, ecosystem connectivity and site fidelity helps scientists and eventually governments – it suggests which areas require strong security. The uploaded photos have helped researchers to know that whale sharks are reaching Galapagos on average 80 days and 5,000 km away. This information may mean that governments are persuaded to establish wide areas of travel conservation for this whale shark migration.
To date, photographers have helped identify about 70 of Galpagos Whale Shark. It is about 10%, a number that will not be possible with traditional tagging and tracking.
Indirectly help
A whale shark is only worth a few thousand dollars when it is cut and sold as a raw material. A live whale shark, however, deserves at least millions of dollars in its lifetime as an attraction. As a charismatic megafauna, the whale shark attracts underwater photographers around the world. Like outfit Galapagos shark diving of Jenny Green Promote diving trips as trips with a purpose. The cost of visitors to Green involves a donation for the Galapagos Whale shark project. Green’s guest photographers/divers smile with whale sharks, often donating extra money on their own. More than this, Green also encourages all divers on its visits to contribute to the wildbook for sharks. These donations make the greatest individual contributor of green in the Galapagos Whale Shark project. If I do not mention George Rapier, I would remember, who contributed the first $ 300,000 to the Galapagos Whale shark project. The Kau family of Hong Kong, concerned, has also been a major contributor in the Galapagos Whale Shark project.
Given that everyone is a photographer these days, it is no surprise that according to Jonathan Green of the Galapagos Whale Shark Project, 30–50% of the diver is photographer on the general trips of Galpagos. At the top of it, photography expert travels see 100% participants diving for the specific purpose of photography. Given that photographers are willing to spend to get shots – which coincidentally runs photography and ecoturism – it is no surprise that governments are interested in protecting animals bringing foreign tourism dollars. By being interested in photographing bus whale sharks, photographers are supporting their safety – they are saving them.
Great pictures on social media also increase the profile of these megafauna, which contributes to greater awareness and greater sense of public imperatives. Presence of Galapagos Whale Shark Project blue Planet This is the correct example of how to increase photography profile at the highest level and protect whale sharks.
One side: Ultrasound
As a brief on the one hand, the main focus of investigating the Galapagos Whale shark project concerns the number of women whale sharks that cross the Pacific region to move to the distant islands of Galapagos. It is discovered that most of these whale sharks are women. The prevailing principle is that these women can become pregnant. To prove this principle, the Galapagos Whale Shark Project is also operating ultrasound at Whale Shark. Yes, you read that right – they are doing ultrasound on whale sharks, underwater. Free-swimming. Understanding why whale sharks are in galapagos can help them expand sea protected areas that give them shelter.
Why should we care?
So, let’s imagine that photography whale can help save sharks – why should we care?
As a charismatic megafauna, whale sharks are seen as a umbrella species by protectionists. The goal for saving whale sharks actually saves different types of other species, such as marine turtles, rays, sharks and other marine mammals. Protecting oceans for whale sharks helps protect the health of the oceans. Given how much our food and oxygen comes from the oceans, it makes sense to protect them.
The possibility of whale shark is about 33 tons of carbon. Given that a whale shark that dies due to natural causes sinks to the floor of the sea and other carbon-unattured is covered in life, this carbon contained in whale sharks can be stored for millennium. David Atonboro is recently advertising his latest film, ocean, oceanAccording to scientists, a healthy ocean ecosystem to help protect the world from climate change will also be able to trap more carbon dioxide. If saving whale sharks can help in the safety of the entire planet, I would argue that in this case, photography can save the world.
All images provided by Galapagos whale shark project, Galapagos shark divingAnd Martin narwazTrailer for Galapagos – Mystery of Ocean Giants provided by Jeffrey Garey
