Tata Chemicals' campaign 'Save the Whale Shark' has managed to save 187 of these endangered species since 2004. A few years ago,Tata Chemicals Ltd (TCL), in association with the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), Coast Guard and the Forest Department officials took on the challenge to save the near-extinct whale shark, commonly known as ‘Vhali’ in coastal Gujarat. Commemorating the contribution made for the novel initiative, a day-long celebration aptly named ‘the Whale Shark Day’ is observed every year.
Last year, The Gujarat Forest Department and Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for a conservation research programme on whale sharks and corals. TCL and WTI signed an MoU for a conservation project to create awareness and undertake research, to save the endangered species of whale shark that visit the shares of Gujarat. The MoU also undertook a study to explore whale shark tourism opportunities in the region which makes the project a unique and first of its kind in the country.
Funded by Tata Chemicals with a corpus of Rs 2 crore, the initiative is in collaboration with the Gujarat State
Forest Department, the National Institute of Oceanography, and marine experts from the national and international arena.
This year, the day-long activities involving fishermen, forest officials, schoolchildren and locals was undertaken at Dwarka, Gujarat, wherein people from the villages nearby and school came together and participated in the activities to lend support to protect the whale shark and the coral reef along the coast of Gujarat.
Speaking on the occasion, Satish Anand, corporate human resource and corporate affairs, Chemicals Business and Consumer Products Business, Tata Chemical Limited, said, “Tata Chemicals has a long history of social initiatives that touch the lives of the people and community where we operate our business.
We strongly believe in working closely with the people and not just the people but also believe the natural surroundings should benefit from the various initiatives undertaken.”