A whale shark, commonly known as “butanding,” surfaced and was captured by a fisherman in the seawaters of Brgy. Tortosa, Manapla, Negros Occidental at about 10:30 a.m. yesterday, Alejandro Malijoc, municipal agriculturist, said.

Malijoc told the DAILY STAR that the fisherman was about 2 to 3 kilometers from the shoreline when the whale shark was caught in his fishnet.

He said it took three pump boats to bring the animal that was about 16 to 20 feet long, to the shore to check and evaluate its condition, and no signs of harm or injury, were found on it. He also said they tried to bring the animal back to the ocean but it returned twice to the shore. He also noted that it was the kind that is fond of people or crowds.

He said the animal eats shrimps and, shrimps are abundant in Brgy. Tortosa. The animal possibly followed the current and got caught by the fisherman, he added.

Malijoc also recalled that they have so far seen three whale sharks in the area that their Bantay Dagat personnel have also seen. He added that this shows that Manapla's marine ecosystem is well-protected. *LTG

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