Indonesia's whale shark tourism boom delights visitors but alarms conservationists
Passengers gasp in delight as Ansar Lasimpala, 47, maneuvers his glass-hulled boat towards the large, dark shadow of a whale shark gliding under the waters off an Indonesian beach.
Once a backwater where fishing was the only source of income, Ansar's village of Botubarani has turned into a tourism destination for those keen to interact with the whale sharks, which are the world's largest fish species.
Ansar said the job is more relaxed and income is fairly good, after feeding the whale sharks with shrimp on the beach.
Ansar, who earns up to 3 million rupiah ($167) a month, far more than the 400,000 rupiah he formerly made as a fisherman, is one of roughly 80 villagers benefiting from the tourism boom, by offering boat rentals, diving services, and use of drones.
Video clips depicting a cluster of about a dozen whale sharks appearing together in 2016 sent the village viral on social media platform Facebook.
The whale sharks are an endangered species, say naturalists, with environmental group Konservasi Indonesia estimating a population of 699 across the eastern islands of the archipelago.
While tourism is a boon for the villagers, others worry about the impact on wildlife.
Constant feeding can disrupt natural behaviour and pose health risks for the whale sharks, said Iqbal Herwata Putra of Konservasi Indonesia.
Authorities have attempted to cut back feeding activities even as they acknowledge the risks and impact on the wildlife.
VIDEO BY REUTERS
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