‘Save Our Sharks’ campaign launched on Phi Phi Island
S Hotels and Resorts have launched an important new collaboration with the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) to breed, care for and release bamboo sharks in Southern Thailand.
Hosted by the Marine Discovery Centre at SAii Phi Phi Island Village, the new SOS ‒ “Save Our Sharks” ‒ programme will see S Hotels & Resorts work hand-in-hand with experts from PMBC.
Together, they will oversee every stage of the bamboo sharks’ development, from incubating eggs and nurturing them at the resort’s Shark Nursery Pond, to releasing the juveniles back into their natural environment, said a release by S Hotels, the global hospitality company from Singha Estate PCL.
This is the latest in a series of campaigns led by the Marine Discovery Centre, an innovative facility which serves as the nerve centre of SAii Phi Phi Island Village’s environmental efforts. This interactive hub houses indoor and outdoor exhibition areas, video rooms and aquariums, presenting a fascinating window into the underwater world and driving key projects such as coral propagation, mangrove planting, and breeding and release programmes for native fauna.
Dirk De Cuyper, Chief Executive Officer of S Hotels & Resorts, said, “We are proud to join forces with Phuket Marine Biological Centre on this critical project. Bamboo sharks are classed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), so the SOS programme will play a crucial role in safeguarding a keystone species. This forms part of our company’s pledge to the planet, which is guided by our support for the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially the SDG14, Life Below Water, which focuses on the world’s oceans, seas and rivers.
“Our Marine Discovery Centres at SAii Phi Phi Island Village and SAii Lagoon Maldives play a crucial role in the preservation of their underwater ecosystems and the protection of wildlife. Led by resident marine biologists, they also educate our guests and local residents in our communities about the importance of conservation. We look forward to cooperating with our friends and colleagues at PMBC to save southern Thailand’s bamboo sharks,” he added.
Dr. Kongkiat Kittiwatanawong, Director of the Phuket Marine Biological Centre, commented, “Our centre has trusted in the capability and expertise of Singha Estate in terms of marine life conservations considering the company’s experiences from the past projects. Besides, the company has employed many marine scientists and staff at Marine Discovery Centre, who have capabilities to take care of Bamboo shark eggs until they become juveniles.”