DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines -- Four whale sharks known as “butanding” have been seen frolicking on the beach near the Tondaligan Park in the village of Boquig here.
Residents said they saw the butanding, also known locally as “supok,” early Tuesday and immediately reported the sighting to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).
Westly Rosario, BFAR Research Center chief, said the sharks (Rhincodon typus) could be the same as those that stayed for more than a month at the Lingayen Gulf in 2001.
Rosario said one of the sea creatures has a cut on its fin, similar to that on a whale shark sighted at the gulf seven years ago.
He said residents are guarding the large, slow-moving, filter feeding fish from poachers.
