Thousands of Tomato Jellyfish Spotted in Taytay, Palawan
The sea turned pink after thousands of tomato jellyfish gathered at a breakwater in Taytay, Palawan.
Recently, The Facebook page “Taytay Palawan Pageantry” shared photos showing the large number of jellyfish, which were reportedly as big as a plate. The post quickly went viral and received various reactions from netizens.
According to residents who witnessed the event, the sea creatures were carried by ocean waves toward the shore and slowly gathered around the breakwater area. The large number of the species floating close to the coast created the appearance of a pink-colored sea, making the view both beautiful and unusual.
Several photos shared online showed clusters of jellyfish floating on the water and gathering along the concrete structures near the shoreline. Many residents went to the area to take pictures and videos of the natural phenomenon.
Some netizens who saw the images said the jellyfish looked very large, with sizes that could be compared to a dinner plate. Reports also suggested that each jellyfish weigh around two kilograms.
The jellyfish are believed to belong to the species known as Crambione cf. mastigophora, commonly called tomato jellyfish. Among the Palaw’an community, the species is also known by local names such as labong-labong or itok-itok.
While many people were amazed by the sight, others expressed concern about possible risks to fishermen and residents who frequently visit the shore. Large groups of jellyfish can sometimes cause problems if people accidentally come into contact with them.
A similar event was also recorded in 2020 in El Nido, when many jellyfish were seen near the coast during the pandemic.
Here is the full post:
“Sobrang daming kulay pink violet na jellyfish na sing lalaki ng plato at estimated 2 kilos ang bigat kada isa, dagsa sa Breakwater ng Taytay, Palawan! Ano po kaya ang dahilan nito?”
The social media users expressed their reactions to the phenomena:
