‘Butanding’ season begins in Donsol Bay
LEGAZPI CITY—Whale sharks, locally known as “butanding,” have started surfacing in Donsol Bay in Donsol town, Sorsogon, as the annual interaction season begins, prompting conservationists to remind tourists to strictly observe the no-feeding policy.
Manuel Narvadez Jr., World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines Donsol Integrated Conservation Program manager, said the gentle giants are drawn to the area because of the abundance of plankton, their primary food source.
“Actually, from November until June, plankton are present in the area, which attracts the butanding, with March to May as the peak season,” Narvadez said.
He added that whale sharks favor the waters of Donsol due to its favorable temperature and healthy marine conditions, particularly within the Ticao-Burias Pass Protected Seascape—the country’s second-largest marine protected area, declared in June 2018.
Awareness
Narvadez said incidents of whale sharks being trapped in fishing nets are very rare, as fishers are aware of the potential damage to their gear if the animals pass through. Some past injuries were caused by accidental contact with boat propellers.
To monitor the population, researchers conduct photo identification by taking pictures of both sides of each whale shark, whose unique spot patterns serve as natural identifiers similar to human fingerprints.
Narvadez stressed that strict compliance with the no-feeding policy is crucial to protect the species, which can live for 60 to 100 years.
Highly migratory
“Whale sharks are highly migratory and search for food in the wild. Feeding them may cause them to remain in the area, which could eventually affect their health and natural growth,” he said.
Tourists are also advised to maintain a distance of at least 4 meters from the animal’s head and tail, avoid wearing lotion or chemicals before swimming, and refrain from using flash photography during encounters.
Narvadez added that only three to four passengers per boat are recommended to prevent stressing the whale sharks.
Based on monitoring by WWF, eight whale shark sightings have already been recorded in Donsol since Feb. 3. In 2025, the group documented 64 sightings—34 new individuals and 30 resightings—bringing the total number of whale sharks recorded in the area to 1,506 since 2007.
