BACOLOD CITY — Community coastal watch groups have been monitoring the waters off Cadiz and Sagay cities in Negros Occidental province to ensure the safety of at least four whale sharks (“butanding”) which have been seen feeding there since last week.
Jose Roberto Togle, Sagay Marine Reserve environment management specialist, said an adult whale shark about 8.22 meters (27 feet) long and three juveniles, measuring 3.04 meters to 4.57 meters (10 feet to 15 feet), were seen in the 7-kilometer stretch of water from the village of Daga in Cadiz City to Himoga-an in Sagay City.
Togle said they did not know where the whale sharks came from as these just showed up last week. Whale sharks have been listed as “endangered” under the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List since 2016.
“These whale sharks do not harm humans and they feed on krill, or tiny shrimps,” he said.
Togle reminded the public not to approach, harm or feed the whale sharks as crowds begin to gather to see the sea creatures, known as “gentle giants.”
“We discourage people from feeding whale sharks so that they do not lose their hunting instincts and can continue to survive on their own in the wild,” he said.
Members of Sagay City’s Bantay Dagat have been monitoring the whale sharks’ movements to ensure their safety.