By DIVE Staff
The Madagascar Whale Shark Project has launched a Patreon page as a new way for supporters to help protect endangered whale sharks. The monthly subscription service will provide supporters with insights and exclusive content in return for their donations.
Stella Diamant, Founder of the Madagascar Whale Shark Project, set up the Patreon page to share the knowledge she has gained from setting up the organisation organisation so that other scientists and conservationists can benefit. Together with the content and behind-the-scenes snippets, Diamant and her team will provide advice on careers in conservation, and interview leading marine scientists and ocean experts about their stories, expertise and fieldwork.
Patreon supporters will also have early access to trips, volunteering opportunities and first change to name their own whale sharks as new animals are identified.
‘When I set up the Madagascar Whale Shark Project, I learned how to set up a conservation not-for-profit simply by doing it,’ said Ms Diamant. ‘I felt there was a stark lack of information about the realities of working in the conservation sector and running a successful organisation. Lots of charities are happy to talk about their successes. But when it comes to the challenges, delays and frustrations, it’s often hard to find the truth about what it’s really like.’
When Diamant encountered her first whale shark in Nosy Be, Madagascar in 2014, no work had been done in the area to establish population size, trends or how the population connected with other regional groups.
To overcome the lack of information, Diamant set up a project involving local tourism operators to discover and expand upon the vital information required for successful whale shark conservation. Since then, the project has identified over 400 individual whale sharks, published several peer-reviewed studies, implemented a code of conduct and initiated a local education programme – but it has not always been easy, and she is keen to share both the highs and lows of ocean conservation through her Patreon page.
‘I don’t think it’s helpful – for individuals or the sector as a whole – if we’re only sharing what went well,’ she added. ‘That’s why I invest my time to empower other conservationists, particularly women and younger generations, to set up their own projects and share actionable advice. I also want to help people realise that you don’t have to be a marine biologist to make a difference. Marine conservation NGOs need lots of other skills: from marketing and photography to finance and project management.
‘I’ve set up this Patreon to give people the knowledge that will help them thrive in their conservation careers – whether or not they come from a science background,’ Ms Diamant continued. ‘This kind of practical information is lacking on so many topics relevant to the conservation industry which means there’s a large knowledge gap in NGOs around the world. And, of course, we’re so grateful to everyone who joins for their support to keep our project thriving too.’
Four levels of Patreon support are available:
- Shallow (€3 per month): becoming part of a passionate community dedicated to protecting the ocean by making a regular monthly donation
- Mid-water (€8 per month): for exclusive project updates, behind-the-scenes insights and a sneak peek into Stella’s monthly interviews with conservation experts
- Deep (€15 per month): with monthly hour-long chats with the world’s leading conservation experts to benefit from their life-changing advice
- Abyss (€150 per month): early access to trips and volunteering opportunities, one-to-one time with Stella and the chance to name a whale shark
For more information and to sign up as Patreon supporter, visit www.patreon.com/madawhalesharks. to learn more about the Madagascar Whale Shark Project and Stella Diamant’s work, head to www.madawhalesharks.org.
