The Wildbook for Sharks is a visual database cataloging shark encounters and individual sharks, aiding marine biologists in research and conservation efforts. Using photographs of the unique skin patterns behind a shark’s gills and any distinctive scars, advanced software enables rapid identification through pattern recognition and photo management tools. This innovative system supports mark-recapture studies, which are vital for understanding shark populations and promoting global conservation.

You can contribute to this important work by submitting photos and sighting data of sharks you encounter. Your submissions will enhance scientific efforts to monitor and protect these threatened species, ensuring their survival for future generations. The Wildbook empowers citizen scientists to play a direct role in shark research, making it a valuable resource for both scientists and the public passionate about marine conservation.

Each shark has an individual fingerprint, such as the spots behind the gills on the sides of a whale shark or the 1st dorsal fin of a white shark. Get an image or video of their “print” and researchers can match that pattern to others already in the database, or your shark might be completely new to the database!