A fundamental reason for establishing the Whale Shark and Oceanic Research Center (WSORC) was to increase the presence and availability of researchers in Honduras to work with Rhincodon typus, the Whale Shark. Utila has long been known as a "hot-spot" for Whale Shark activity due to it's proximity to the Continental Shelf and strong upwelling currents, however up until now serious research has been sporadic at best. Eight years ago, the Shark Research Institute (SRI) affiliated themselves with Utila Lodge and its owners/proprietors Jim & Kisty Engel who had already been working with the sharks for 4 years. The idea of building a field research station seemed the next logical step.  Utila Lodge has been actively involved with Whale Shark Research ever since.