Philippines: Donsol also a breeding ground for whale sharks

Ed De Leon Philippine Information Agency 8 Mar 11;

LEGAZPI CITY,March 8 (PIA) — Donsol town in Sorsogon province is now being considered not only a feeding ground but also a breeding ground of whale sharks. Locally known as butanding, af a 15-inch-long live whale shark was found in the coastal waters of the town, according to the Department of Tourism (DOT) regional office here.

DOT Bicol regional director Maria “Nene” Ravanilla said the nature conservation group World Wide Fund-Philippines is conducting the study after the recent discovery of the baby whale shark accidentally caught in the area off the coast of Donsol.

She said that the smallest ever butanding was said to be a day-old whale shark hence it was born in the area.

Butanding are also thriving in this once sleepy town because of the abundance of krill and other planktons usually the diet of the gentle giants of the seas.

Ravanilla said that the whale shark interaction in Donsol, one of the most visited tourist spots in Bicol or perhaps in the whole country, continues to draw tourist to the province of Sorsogon last year which reached 101,799 or 21 percent higher than in 2009 with only 84,354.

She said that out of the total tourist arrivals last year, 73,925 were local tourists while 27,874 were foreigners or a ratio of one foreign tourist to three locals.

She said Donsol is now vying to be a first-class municipality after its gross receipts from tourism reached more than P66 million. (PIA V/Albay/mal)