Whale Sharks found Dead Camarines Sur, Philippines

abs-cbnNEWS.com

Posted at 06/06/2011

CAMARINES SUR – A whale shark, locally known as butanding, was found dead on the shores of Brgy. Bonot-Sta. Rosa, Calabanga, Camarines Sur, Sunday morning.

Joel Panuela, a local fisherman, said he was on his way to check his fish corrals but was surprised to see the dead whale shark.

It took Panuela and other residents about two hours to drag the dead whale shark to the shore because of the low tide.

Local residents are suspecting that the whale shark has been trapped in the fish corrals before dying.

Meanwhile, local authorities warned the residents against slaughtering the whale shark, whose length was estimated at 26 feet.

Even without permission from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the local government of Calabanga went on to bury the whale. Almost 100 residents helped in digging the grave for the dead sea giant.

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Dead whale shark found in Camarines Sur, Philippines

Posted at 04/21/2011

CAMARINES SUR – Fishermen found a dead whale shark or “butanding” in Cabusao, Camarines Sur on Thursday.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) later confirmed the whale shark was the same one that was rescued from being beached in Calabanga.

The butanding was a male, around 7.7 meters long, weighing about 6 tons.

The BFAR said the cause of death could have been the lack of oxygen in the waters coming from the Bicol River Basin.

However, the animal did have wounds on the right side of its body, possibly from hitting the propeller of a boat.

This is the 7th incident involving whale sharks in Bicol, but this is the first where the butanding actually died.

The BFAR plans to bury the whale shark. – report from Rizza Mostar, ABS-CBN Bicol; ANC

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