Nearly 4-tonne whale shark dies after washing ashore in Bacolod City

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A whale shark measuring around seven meters long and weighing nearly four tonnes died along the coastline of Barangay Singcang-Airport in Bacolod City.

According to Kuya Kim's report on "24 Oras," Wednesday, residents initially found the whale shark, locally known as butanding, in a weakened condition after it was washed ashore. However, it eventually died.

Cristian S. Cario, officer-in-charge of the Fisheries Resource Management Section of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Bacolod, said authorities have yet to determine the cause of death.

"We currently do not have enough information to determine the actual cause of the whale shark's death. We advise burying it immediately and making sure that the burial site is relatively far from populated areas. Its remains could pose health risks to residents," he said.

Authorities also faced difficulties handling the animal because of its enormous size.

"They had difficulty deciding whether to retrieve the marine mammal because it was quite large," Cario said.

Authorities used a crane truck to lift the whale shark's remains and transport them to a dumpsite in Bacolod City for burial. A backhoe was also used to dig the burial site.

Cario expressed sadness over the incident and reminded local fishermen to help protect marine wildlife.

"It is sad that this happened in our area. I would just like to advise our fishermen to take care of our oceans. Let us not engage in illegal fishing activities because these have an impact on our marine wildlife," he said.

According to Kuya Kim, whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) are the largest fish in the world, typically measuring between 5.5 and 10 meters long.

They can weigh more than 20 tonnes, making them heavier than some elephant species. Despite their enormous size, whale sharks primarily feed on plankton, small fish, and other tiny organisms.

They also have five pairs of gill slits that help them obtain oxygen from the water. —Carby Rose Basina/MGP, GMA News