Gauree.Malkarnekar@timesofindia.comPanaji: For a long time, there were no reports of whale sharks spotted in Goa waters. Then, last year, Wildlife Trust of India’s (WTI) pan-India whale shark conservation project was implemented in Goa along with the state forest department, for schedule-I protected species, which saw two cases of whale shark rescues in the state. Now, WTI and the department have announced a contest to find a Konkani name for whale sharks, which will help locals connect better to the species and boost awareness and conservation efforts.The public naming campaign is called ‘give Goa’s gentle giant a Konkani name’, and participation will be open till Sept 25. The chosen name is expected to be announced in the first week of Oct.Saymanti B, manager and head, natural heritage campaigns, WTI, said that the whale shark is the world’s largest fish and, while other states have locals names for it, Goa does not yet have a widely-recognised Konkani name specifically for this species. The WTI and the forest department therefore decided to invite Goans to suggest a distinctive Konkani name for the whale shark“We are not looking for cutesy or cuddly names, we are looking for names that locals can identify with. The broader name associated with the species in Goa is mori, but there is no specific name. The two fishermen who released the two whale sharks during the whale shark conservation project did not know what it is called. So we decided to open it up. Idea behind the contests is that whenever you have an inclusive feeling about the conservation efforts, the onus comes on you,” she said.Saymanti said these contests open up the conservation efforts beyond fisherman towards responsible tourism or blue economy. Participants will have to submit the names through a Google form being circulated by WTI and the forest department and they will also have to explain the significance behind the name.“As per the literature available, cultural references or traditional practices, there are no Konkani names at present for whale shark specifically. The idea came about last year when we launched the conservation programme and the two whale shark releases were reported. There was no incidence of whale shark spotting in Goan water prior to this. Mori is a more generic name. If we give a local name rooted in the culture then it will be appreciated more by the Goan people,” said Sujeet Kumar Dongre, centre for environment education (CEE), which is also part of the project.Saymanti said that the contest is looking for a local name like biptto used for leopards, which is derived from their spots.
