Last week, we had the incredible opportunity to visit Maiton Island in Phuket, where the next generation of baby leopard sharks are being prepared for life in the wild.
For many divers in Thailand, leopard sharks used to be a common sight around reefs like Phi Phi and Shark Point. But over the years, their population has dramatically decreased due to overfishing, habitat destruction, pollution, and pressure on marine ecosystems. Today, seeing a leopard shark has become a truly special encounter. (Spot the Leopard Shark)
That’s where the StAR Project comes in.
The StAR Project (Stegostoma tigrinum Augmentation and Recovery Project) is working to restore Thailand’s endangered leopard shark population by breeding, raising, and eventually releasing young sharks back into the Andaman Sea. The project is part of a global conservation effort focused on rebuilding healthy wild shark populations.
So far, seven leopard sharks have already been released into the wild near Maiton Island, including sharks named Maiton, Hope, Spot, and Toty. Before release, each shark is fitted with tracking transmitters so researchers can monitor their movements and survival around the Andaman Sea. (WildAid)
But the new generation we met is still too young and too small to be released.
What Do Baby Leopard Sharks Need to Learn?
One of the most interesting things we learned during our visit is that the sharks actually need to be trained for the wild.
Before release, they must learn:
- how to find food,
- what prey to eat,
- and how to survive independently in a natural environment.
That’s where the “shark nannies” come in.
There are currently three shark nannies working on the project in Thailand, and their daily work is incredibly important. Every day starts with sourcing fresh food for the sharks from the local market. The food then needs to be carefully prepared, cut, weighed, and recorded to monitor exactly how much each shark is eating.
The shark nannies also hand-feed the leopard sharks inside the sea pen to make sure every individual gets enough food and to stop other fish from stealing it first. They closely monitor the sharks’ health, growth, and behaviour every single day. Very interesting and good video of the subject by Reuters.
Watching the sharks learn these survival behaviours was honestly fascinating.
Spot the Leopard Shark
Another amazing conservation initiative connected to this work is Spot the Leopard Shark Thailand — a citizen science project that allows divers to contribute directly to shark research and conservation.
The project uses photo identification to track individual leopard sharks across Thailand. Every shark has a unique spot pattern, meaning researchers can identify individual sharks from diver photos and videos. Since the project started, hundreds of leopard sharks have already been identified from Thailand’s west coast.
This means that divers can genuinely help scientists understand shark populations, movement patterns, and recovery in Thailand.
Why Leopard Sharks Matter
Leopard sharks are an important part of healthy reef ecosystems.
As bottom-dwelling predators, they help maintain balance in marine environments and are a key species in Thailand’s underwater world.
For many scuba divers, seeing a leopard shark is one of the most unforgettable experiences you can have underwater. Calm, beautiful, and completely non-aggressive, they are one of the ocean’s most misunderstood animals.
Protecting them means protecting the future of our reefs.
Diving With Purpose
At Fast Manta, ocean conservation has always been a huge part of what we do. We are proud to be an official Shark Guardian Ambassador Dive Centre, which means we love being involved in projects connected to shark conservation and marine protection.
For us, diving is about more than just seeing beautiful marine life. It’s about creating connection, awareness, and respect for the ocean.
Through education and experiences like this, we hope to teach divers how to dive with purpose, protect marine ecosystems, and help break the old stigmas around sharks. Because the reality is that sharks are not monsters — they are a vital part of healthy oceans.
And honestly, after spending the day with baby leopard sharks, it’s impossible not to fall in love with them.
