Phuket, Thailand (December 8th, 2025) – Four juvenile Indo-Pacific leopard sharks fitted with acoustic tags were released from Maiton Resort, marking another milestone for the StAR Project Thailand (Stegostoma tigrinum Augmentation and Recovery Project Thailand) that aims to rebuild wild populations of the endangered species. This event, held at the island resort located nine kilometers southeast of Phuket Island, follows the successful release of three leopard sharks in September, bringing the project’s total number of sharks released in 2025 to seven. Rewilding leopard sharks in this area is critical in restoring balance to marine ecosystems, as they are key predators.

The four sharks – Maiton, Hope, Spot and Toty — were bred by the aquarist team from Aquaria Phuket, a private aquarium located in Phuket Province. Now approaching two years of age, each shark measures approximately 100-140 centimeters in length.

Before the release, representatives from the StAR Project Thailand partners performed a blessing ceremony, pouring seawater adorned with flowers into the sea as a symbolic gesture wishing the sharks a safe and successful return to its natural habitat.

 “Leopard sharks play a vital role in coral reef ecosystems, helping maintain ecological balance and attracting divers, bringing both income and a deeper appreciation for Thailand’s marine environment. As the lead agency responsible for marine research and conservation, the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources has been working in collaboration with partners from the StAR Project Thailand since the very beginning. This collaboration has included receiving juvenile leopard sharks from Phuket Aquarium, rearing them, and training them to feed on natural prey within a sea pen at Maiton Island to ensure they are fully prepared before being released back into the wild. We have also conducted health assessments and implanted acoustic transmitters in the sharks together with veterinary teams from Ocean Park Hong Kong. In addition, we have worked closely with the Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation to install and retrieve data from underwater acoustic receivers, enabling us to monitor the sharks’ behavior, movements, and post-release survival. Today’s release is not only a symbolic milestone, but also a reaffirmation of the strong collective commitment of all sectors, government agencies, private organizations, conservation partners, and the public, including the diving community, to restore Thailand’s marine ecosystem and preserve their balance for future generations,” said Pinsak Suraswadi, Director-General, DMCR.

The StAR Project Thailand, originally initiated by ReShark, is the country’s first endangered shark rewilding initiative. Officially launched in May this year, the initiative brings together a broad multi-sector collaboration involving key Thai government agencies, the private sector, and non-profit organizations. The project’s partners include the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR), the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), the Department of Fisheries (DoF), Aquaria Phuket, Maiton Resort, WildAid, Ocean Blue Tree and Thai Sharks and Rays.

Once abundant in Thai waters, Indo-Pacific leopard sharks have experienced a significant decline over recent decades due to bycatch in fisheries and degradation of coral reef habitats. According to the latest Population Viability Analysis (PVA), prepared by Dr. Philip S. Miller, Director, Science and Data of the IUCN SSC Conservation Planning Specialist Group, the current wild population of leopard sharks in the Andaman Sea is estimated to be between 57 and 172 individuals. This is extremely small compared with the estimated carrying capacity of approximately 1,000 individuals within the suitable leopard shark habitats in the Andaman Sea. Such a small population is highly vulnerable to demographic and genetic risks. A rewilding initiative like the StAR Project Thailand can facilitate rapid population growth, reduce the extinction risk and the loss of genetic diversity over time.

“Long-term data from the citizen science Spot the Leopard Shark – Thailand project reveal a significant decline in leopard shark populations. These data were incorporated into a Population Viability Analysis (PVA) model, which indicates that while the species still persists in Thai waters, such a small population remains vulnerable to unexpected events that could cause further decline in populations. Encouragingly, the PVA also shows that a structured, science-based release program like the StAR Project Thailand can help strengthen the species’ resilience by boosting population growth and slowing the loss of genetic diversity over time. Through the dedication of our government partners, private-sector partners, aquariums, scientists, and the diving community, we are giving this species a real chance to rebuild and thrive. We are deeply grateful for the commitment, shared vision, and teamwork that make this conservation effort possible,” said Metavee Chuangcharoendee, Project Manager of the StAR Project Thailand, WildAid.

Private aquariums like Aquaria Phuket play a vital role in the recovery of this species beyond public awareness, by providing husbandry expertise in breeding leopard sharks native to the Andaman Sea, they can strengthen long-term recovery initiatives and rewilding programs like StAR Project Thailand.

"On behalf of Aquaria Phuket, we are immensely proud to be the first institution in Thailand to successfully breed leopard sharks. Seeing the sharks we have cared for grow into strong, healthy juveniles, now ready to return to their natural habitat, is an invaluable reward for our team and reinforces our commitment to marine conservation. This milestone not only reflects the dedication and expertise of our aquarist team, but also represents a significant step forward in applying our marine breeding and research knowledge toward true in-situ conservation. This achievement is a testament to the collective dedication of our conservation partners, whose collaboration through the StAR Project Thailand continues to drive meaningful progress for our oceans," said Daryl Foong, Group Chief Executive Officer of Aquaria Phuket.

The sea pen at Maiton Resort served as a temporary home for the juvenile sharks as the shark aquarists cared for them while they acclimatized to the water currents, tides, and natural conditions. To encourage natural foraging behavior, the aquarists scattered and hid food and allowed the sharks to search for additional natural food items within the sea pen.

“Maiton Resort is deeply proud to be a part of the StAR Project Thailand. We believe that taking part in nurturing and rehabilitating these leopard sharks is a small yet meaningful step toward achieving a greater goal, in the conservation of the country’s marine resources. Over the years, we have remained committed to protecting and restoring the marine environment through close collaboration with both government agencies and the public. We believe that protecting the ocean is not merely a responsibility, but a shared mission for all of us to preserve the beauty and abundance of our seas for generations to come. During the time the leopard sharks were being cared for in the sea pen on Maiton Island, it was an inspiring and unforgettable experience for our entire team. We had the opportunity to observe their graceful patterns and natural behaviours up close. We believe that if leopard shark populations in Thai waters can be successfully restored in the future, it will further encourage tourists and people from all sectors to learn about and actively participate in the conservation of Thailand’s marine life,” said Yothin Dumnerncharnvanit, Chairman of Executive Board, Double A (1991) Public Company Limited.

Prior to release, veterinarians from the DMCR thoroughly assessed the shark’s health before tagging and releasing. The acoustic tags, each with a battery life of about five years, transmit a unique frequency that can be detected by an array of 20 underwater acoustic receivers deployed across Phang Nga Bay, spanning the waters between southern mainland Thailand in Phang Nga, Krabi, and Phuket Island. The Bay was identified through citizen science data as a hotspot for leopard shark sightings and is considered an important habitat for the species. Whenever a tagged shark swims within approximately 500 meters of a receiver, the tag’s ID is automatically recorded in the receiver’s data log along with date and time.

“The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation recognizes the importance of conserving leopard sharks, as marine national parks such as the Mu Ko Similan National Park and Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park are critical habitats for this species. We are extremely proud to play an important role in this project. During August and November, we collaborated with the DMCR, WildAid, and Ocean Blue Tree under the StAR Project Thailand to deploy underwater acoustic receivers to track the movements of leopard sharks fitted with acoustic tags, as well as to collect post-release data on the first group of released leopard sharks. This is a key step in studying the behavior and survival rates of leopard sharks after they are returned to the wild. The DNP is committed to supporting research and monitoring of leopard shark populations within marine national parks, in order to preserve the health of marine wildlife and habitats in Thai waters,” said Saysudchai Chunchaowarit, Director of the National Parks Office, DNP.

The retrieved data collected from the deployed receivers in November confirmed detections of the three previously released sharks, Maya, Similan, and Ginger, within 16 kilometers from the release site, up to 50 days after their release. The sharks were detected around Koh Dok Mai in Phuket Province, Koh Khai Nok in Phang Nga Province and Hin Musang (Shark Point) near Phi Phi Island. These detections indicate that the sharks are actively exploring a wider area and suggest that these sites provide suitable habitat for juvenile sharks to forage and thrive.

The StAR Project Thailand supports the objectives of the National Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks (NPOA-Sharks), led by the DoF, through research, breeding and shark release initiatives. 

“The Department of Fisheries is pleased to witness this important milestone for the project today. The release of Indo-Pacific leopard sharks, carried out under the StAR Thailand Project’s rigorous, science-based protocols, serves as a significant model for marine species restoration through captive breeding and release into the wild. As the lead agency responsible for developing Thailand’s NPOA–Sharks, which focuses on the sustainable management of marine resources, the DoF will continue to support conservation awareness, survival monitoring, research promotion, knowledge exchange, and the establishment of fisheries control measures to ensure the protection of Indo-Pacific leopard sharks as well as other shark species at risk of extinction. This release marks an important first step toward the collaborative, long-term recovery of shark populations in Thai waters,” said Thitiporn Laoprasert, Director-General, DoF.

To support effective monitoring of the released sharks, the StAR team is conducting outreach with diving operators and boat crews around Phuket, encouraging them to continue promoting the submission of leopard shark photos and videos taken in Thai waters through the “Spot the Leopard Shark – Thailand” platform. These contributions play a vital role in helping scientists carry out long-term monitoring of the released sharks and population trends, particularly if the sighted individuals are among those reintroduced under the project.

The StAR team also asks the diving community to refrain from touching or moving the receiver devices if they come across them at dive sites. These devices are safe, non-hazardous, and essential for marine research. Divers are also encouraged to report any loose or damaged receivers through the project’s platform.