Whale Shark Stocked In Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental
A 6 meters long whale shark or known as “Butanding” was stranded in the shallow waters of Barangay Aguisan in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental.
On Saturday (April 22, 2017), a 3-ton juvenile butanding was reportedly stranded in the coastal areas of Negros Occidental. It has been found caught in the nets of a fishing vessel when it was looking for food in the area.
State College of Fisheries professor Roger Ray Manzano is one of those who responded in rescuing the stocked whale shark. The rescuers immediately arrive and slowly pushed towards the sea and quickly swam away.
Manzano explained that the sea creature might be looking for food along the coastal areas of Southern Negros when it was accidentally entangled in the nets of fishing vessels.
Previously, fishermen in Barangay Enclaro in Binalbagan town found a carcass of a dolphin along its shoreline. It was still unknown if the dolphin was a victim of catch fishing in the area.
The residents in the area were linking the appearance of dolphins, whales, and other sea creatures to impending natural calamities and disasters. But Manzano has dismissed the claims of the residents.
Manzao also said that the shorelines of the Southern Negros are near the Negros Trench, which is the pathway of migratory marine species, which explains the appearance of whales and dolphins in the area.
“In the case of butandings, the reason why we often see them 5-10 kilometers away from the shoreline is an indication that they are feeding,” said by Manzano quoted by ABS-CBN.
What can you say about this whale shark stranded in the shallow waters of Negros Occidental? Do you believe that it is related to impending disasters and calamities? Just feel free to leave your comments and reactions for this article.