Two endangered Indo-Pacific leopard shark pups with ties to Tacoma are now swimming free in the waters of Raja Ampat, Indonesia.
Their release marks a significant milestone in an international conservation effort to restore the species in the wild.
In late August, shark pups Jelly and Bestie were released near the Raja Ampat Research and Conservation Centre (RARCC) nursery on Kri Island. The releases are part of an ongoing effort to rebuild populations of Indo-Pacific leopard sharks, which have declined across much of their historic range because of overfishing and habitat loss.
The young sharks trace their origins back to Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma. The zoo’s resident leopard sharks, Peanut and Butter, produced seven genetically valuable eggs that were sent to Indonesia as part of the conservation program.
Jelly and Bestie were hatched and raised at RARCC through the StAR (Stegostoma tigrinum Augmentation and Recovery) Project, a key component of the global ReShark initiative, which aims to restore endangered Indo-Pacific leopard shark populations.
Jelly became the 76th Indo-Pacific leopard shark released through the StAR Project in Raja Ampat, while Bestie was the 80th shark released, marking the conclusion of the 2026 release season in Indonesia.
Researchers will continue tracking the sharks as they adapt to their native habitat. Jelly was outfitted with a fin-mounted SPOT satellite tag, which provides GPS locations when she surfaces. Bestie received a MicroPAT tag that is designed to detach after about three months and collect detailed diving data, along with GPS locations at the time of release and recovery.
Jelly was released alongside members of the StAR Indonesia team, while Bestie’s release included local schoolchildren who helped adopt and name the shark before returning her to the ocean.
“This is exactly what we hope for when we talk about conservation,” said Chris Spaulding, curator at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. “Their releases are a powerful reminder that conservation partnerships can have an impact thousands of miles from home.”
The Indo-Pacific leopard shark is listed as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Back in Tacoma, visitors can see Peanut and Butter, the shark parents whose offspring contributed to the latest conservation milestone, inside the Tropical Reef Aquarium at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium.
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