One night, a conversation with local inhabitants and returning migrants to the island of Santa Maria of the Azores, highlights the importance of natural heritage and marine megafauna for the locals. This makes the researcher revisit some of the sketches and capture the locals' caring for their rich natural biodiversity, and more than human patrimony.

Figure 5: Island Sketching and Noticing

From these materials, a fabulation grew, depicting humans and marine species becoming closer as the water rises and takes over part of the land. One evening at dusk, as we drive past green fields full of cows roaming freely, we think and fantasise out loud. The sea at the horizon frames the green grass. We embrace fabulation as a fun, open-ended activity while we are driving. We reflect on he rising seas, as an effect of climate change. How these lowlands and meadows could one day be reclaimed by the sea and lie underwater. How would life on the island look like in that case?

Figure 6: Island Fabulation 1

Despite the quite dramatic beginning, the authors strived to turn the fabulation into an affirmative and positive one, focusing on mutual care and kinship among species.

Figure 7: Island Fabulation 2

The whale shark is a big protagonist of the island's marine biodiversity, together with a range of megafauna such as the Manta Rey, dolphins, and whales. The local humans love them and respect them. They bark on hours-long trips on tiny boats to have a chance to encounter them and swim close to them, feeling small and blessed to have such animals swimming in nearby waters. Due to climate change, the sea waters are rising. The rising sea levels will easily cover the green meadows at the border with the sea. The marine species will eventually substitute the terrestrial ones, and the whale shark will be considered like a local cow. Unlike the wild, these marine species will become acquainted with shallow waters and human presence but need help to survive. The locals will cherish the big mammals and ensure they are fed, safe, and healthy. In return, the Manta Ray leaves humans with a special yearly present. The Manta Ray will leave a big egg made of a magic material that heals neurodegenerative diseases in humans. The whale shark will alert the humans once the gift is ready for them to pick up. The whale shark will come to shore and make a unique dance swim as a signal, so majestic and beautiful to see this huge animal perform such intricate and skilful movements. The humans are grateful to the shark and celebrate the picking up of the gift once a year with grand festivities. The humans cook and prepare special meals for their dear whale shark, and the species swim with each other and cherish each other’s company. The other marine species are also part of the festivities. Some marine species are changing and learn to come to land for a brief time.