PostHeaderIcon Dying whale shark found in Manila Bay



An obvious setback to conservation, protection, and preservation of animals, the death of a 17 foot whale shark (butanding) in Manila Bay was a big loss. The huge female sea creature estimated to be about 2 years old and weighing about 1 ton had shown unexpected eye injuries and a few lacerations on the tail when found almost lifeless in the polluted waters of South Harbor.

"The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources has classified whale sharks as vulnerable species, which means they face high risk of extinction in the wilds in the medium term. In the Philippines, the whale shark is protected by the Philippine Fisheries Code (Republic Act 8550) of 1998, which bans the fishing or taking of rare, threatened, or endangered species. Violators face 12 to 20 years of imprisonment and a P120,000 fine."--- Inquirer (11/02/09)

Whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) are known to be docile animals which show extraordinary friendliness to human beings. They have been seen to frequent places like Donsol and Matnog, Sorsogon in Bicol. Possible causes of death include illnesses, entanglement in sea-fishing equipment, predation, and pollution.

Fishermen of the area and volunteers from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) attempted to revive the spotted gray-blue animal, but died soon after it towed to shore.

On examination of the remains, the whale shark harbored plastics and nails in its stomach prompting environmental authorities to theorize pollution as the probable cause of death. The whale shark subsists on planktons and krill found in the bay where polluting garbage and non-biodegradable debris abound. The death of the whale shark is another reminder that conservation of the environmnet including protection of sea animals must be pursued. (Photo Credit: Zamora, R/ Inquirer)=0=

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