Dubai: With her own badge, song and now a dedicated cartoon strip, Sammy the Shark has acquired celebrity status among its aquatic counterparts.
According to Savio Fernandes, an Indian expatriate and freelance cartoonist, all the attention is well-deserved.
He said: "I saw Sammy myself, long before the Gulf News campaign began. My heart went out to it because it looked completely out of place in that tank."
Sammy's plight pushed Fernandes' creative instincts into overdrive and he decided to do something substantial for the whale shark's cause.
Fernandes said: "I was always interested in doing a cartoon strip for Sammy, but never acted on my intentions. However, once the campaign by Gulf News picked up steam, I thought it was time for me to contribute, too."
Working as a call centre supervisor, Fernandes has been in the UAE for almost two years. With plenty of experience drawing cartoon strips for various publications in India, he said it was inevitable for him to "turn the focus" to Sammy's cause.
But why the whale shark? For Fernandes, the issue was a no-brainer. He said: "I am not a hard-core activist or even a vegetarian. But one doesn't have to be an environmentalist to see that Sammy should be in the ocean, where she belongs. It's the right thing to do."
Ensuring that a strong vein of satire runs through his cartoon strips, Fernandes hopes to throw light on Sammy's story by using punchlines and dry humour.
He said: "I intend to bring in current issues and themes when drawing the strip, so that the topics are relevant to residents in this region."
Having just begun drawing cartoon strips on Sammy, Fernandes said he has a lot more in store, if given the opportunity to exhibit his talent.
He added: "You cannot put a polar bear in the desert and expect it to be happy. I am doing this for Sammy and I really hope she is let free."
