Bringing the zebra shark home to Raja Ampat

  The Raja Ampat Islands in Southwest Papua are renowned not only for their breathtaking natural beauty but also for their rich biodiversity, sitting at the heart of the Coral Triangle, which is home to approximately 75 percent of global coral species.

One of the marine species found in the area is the zebra shark (Stegostoma tigrinum), whose population has declined sharply in recent years due to blast fishing and targeted hunting of this Indo-Pacific shark species.

Biodiversity surveys and routine coral reef monitoring conducted by Conservation International (CI) over the past 20 years have recorded extremely low sighting rates. Between 2001 and 2021, only three individual zebra sharks were observed over 15,000 hours of monitoring.

Experts involved in the Stegostoma tigrinum Augmentation and Recovery (StAR) project estimate that as few as 20 individuals remain scattered across the six million hectares of the Raja Ampat Islands. This has led to the zebra shark being considered functionally extinct within the islands' area.

The loss of this population could have a profound impact on the ecosystem, given the zebra shark’s role as a key predator and an indicator of environmental health.

Furthermore, their disappearance deprives the local community of the opportunity to connect with the species.

Yolanda Wamaer, an educator at ReShark - one of the initiators of the StAR project, is deeply aware of the loss the Papuan people will face should the zebra shark vanish entirely from Raja Ampat waters.

From the Raja Ampat Research and Conservation Center (RARCC) on Kri Island, the Papuan woman carries out conservation education initiatives for the local community, with a particular focus on school children.

"Before conservation efforts began, marine animals - especially sharks - were widely consumed by the local community. We don't want that habit to be passed down to the younger generation. We have to do everything we can to educate them so these practices no longer cause damage," she said.

Beyond being hunted for consumption, the species now faces threats from those seeking their fins and skin. The fins are harvested for culinary use, while the skin is used to manufacture accessories.

Thus, education continues to be extended starting from school children, such as by inviting them to the RARCC to see firsthand the zebra shark nursery.

In addition, education efforts extend to the villages surrounding the nursery, highlighting the vital role zebra sharks play in the ecosystem and their status as a near-extinct species.

Although still in the early stages, the impact of these initiatives is already becoming apparent. Villagers who have participated in the program frequently report zebra shark sightings, while others have begun advising their neighbors against catching them.

In some cases, adults have learned about the importance of protecting zebra sharks from their own children, who attended awareness sessions led by conservation educators.

Outreach activities also take place when procuring shark feed from local fishers. During these interactions, Wamaer explains the current population status of zebra sharks in Raja Ampat and the shared responsibility to protect them.

Through these consistent efforts, she hopes the message of zebra shark conservation will spread to other villages across the islands.

Repopulation process

With three individual zebra sharks detected in Raja Ampat, the repopulation and rewilding process was challenging.

Annisa Fathya, an aquarist at ReShark, stated that the organization sources eggs from partner aquariums in Australia and the United States, with the first shipment occurring in 2020.

The zebra shark eggs, which are brown and coarse-textured, are carefully tended until they hatch.Once hatched, the pups are moved to nursery pens where they learn to forage and sharpen their wild instincts to ensure they can survive on their own upon release.

Before being released into the wild, their health is continuously monitored, and they are fitted with tags to track their movements. On average, the sharks reach a length of 100 cm and are ready for release at 7–8 months of age, while newborns typically measure between 30 and 60 cm by the time they are two weeks to two months old.

As of January 21, 2026, 57 zebra sharks have been released. The release of the 57th shark named Morin was special as it was carried out by the Governor of Southwest Papua, Elisa Kambu.

The StAR project to recover zebra shark population is a collaborative effort between several national and international organizations, including Conservation Indonesia (KI).

Senior Vice President and Executive Chair of KI, Meizani Irmadhiany, stated that various efforts are being made to support and maintain sustainability in the region, particularly within the Marine Protected Areas established by the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries.

Irmadhiany underlined that the recovery requires a science-based long-term approach which takes time and cannot rely on area protection alone.

Ensuring the species' recovery goes beyond merely hatching eggs and releasing pups; it also requires the comprehensive protection of their natural habitat.

Damages on coral reefs are one of the threats that could emerge along with the arrivals of tour boats.

Anchors from these vessels can crush the coral on the seabed, ultimately devastating the ecosystem. This impacts not only the environment but also the livelihoods of the local community.

Several steps have been taken not only by conservation organizations but also regional governments. KI, in collaboration with the Raja Ampat Marine Protected Area Management Authority, has established moorings for tour boats.

The Governor of Southwest Papua has issued a circular mandating the use of moorings and the payment of mooring fees within the Raja Ampat Marine Protected Areas. This directive is addressed to all tour boat and liveaboard operators.

The regulation ensures that monitoring is carried out by the authority in coordination with relevant officials and indigenous communities. Meanwhile, the fees collected are officially managed to fund conservation area management.

The collaboration of various parties is expected to safeguard the coral reefs and seagrass meadows that serve as vital habitats for zebra sharks, ensuring their long-term survival and that of other marine species that call Raja Ampat home.