Whale Sharks

Category: Research | Date: Mar 24 2008 | By: admin

My name is Simon and I have been volunteering with the East African Whale Shark Trust for over a year now. This is the story about how we found the 2 tags.

A few weeks after the the great Expedition 2008, I recieved the call from Nimu that two tags hadfallen off! I rushed to see Nimu and she gave me details as how to locate the tags in two locations on the North coast of Mombasa. We looked at the Google maps Brent had sent us with the GPS locations and Volker showed us how to use the GPS.

I called David French who was then a volunteer with the Trust. The following day we took off  to North coast to go find the tags. According to the coordinates we were given one tag was somewhere at Nature trail (bamburi quarry transformed into animal santuary). It was the adventure and we were happy to look forward to it! On arriving at the spot we were shocked to find out the coordinates were pointing at the tree! Somehow we were confused.

We went on to look for the next on which was about 12 kms away. The funny thing was the GPS we were using directed us to the road which was access to the beach, but the same thing happened as with the first one. Frankly we were discouraged but we didn’t gave up.We put up posters everywhere in the villages where coordinates were close to. Then We headed back home.

Two days later we had some more coordinates which the tags had transmited.The first tag showed that someone was walking with it! On  arrival to the direction where the GPS was pointing it was at the beach but we didn’t have the access to it. So the only way was to  get permission from one of the homesteads next to the beach but it was not easy to explain to the  old man we met. David rushed with the GPSwhich was pointing that the tag was 30m away fro where were but the old man was furious with him for going through his compound. In fact he rushed and picked a machete to attack him! I cooled him down which was not easy. Finally he agreed to take us where the GPS was pointing at. On our way there we met two fishermen who agreed also to help us. On arrival at the spot we started to look for it and after 45min David found it Wow! We rewarded the two fishermen and the old man - they were happy especially the old man who apologised to David.

Then we headed back to the first one. I started talking to the beach boys where the tag had transmitted first. David had rushed to Mombasa briefly. Luckily one of the beach boys told me that they had collected it and one of them had gone with it home hoping it was a torch but it was not working. I went with them but they kept on asking me what was the reward! I told them once Iconfirmed it was the one I will give them each 1000/- or USD 10. A few minutes later they brought it to me I couldn’t believe it was the one! I called Nimu and David! Once we believed the coordinates they were right. It was the adventure I will never forget.    

Here is a picture of me with the tags we found!