Stories of the Butanding
This project ran from April 22 to May 31 in commemoration of the month of the Ocean. This campaign hopes to bring light to the threats that Whale Sharks are facing, especially from irresponsible tourism, unsustainable feeding, and other factors. We will be raising awareness about the endangered “Butanding” and how important it is to push for its conservation.
I would also like to thank OE's first-ever volunteer, Mercedes Estaris, for dedicating her time and effort to this project.
DOCUMENTING THE
BIGGEST FISH IN THE OCEAN
This campaign will not be like the others, especially in the quality of photographs and videos. But with this, I aim to showcase my authentic and unfiltered experience documenting the biggest fish in the ocean.
I specifically chose Donsol, Sorsogon to document this amazing species as I believe in Donsol’s advocacy of keeping wild animals wild.
This is one of the most amazing experiences I’ve ever had in my life and I am so humbled to have had the privilege of documenting such a magnificent creature.
THE WHALE SHARK
The Whale Shark, scientifically known as Rhincodon typus, and locally known as “Butanding”, is a free-swimming species and is the largest living fish and shark in the world.
These gentle giants can be found in the warm tropical waters of the Philippines particularly in Southern Leyte, Palawan, Sorsogon, and Cebu.
Now listed as “endangered” by IUCN in early July of 2016, this means that this sea giant is two steps closer to extinction.
WHY DONSOL?
I firmly believe that our biodiversity’s natural habitats should be protected, animals should not be used for entertainment, and the magnitude of speciesism greatly impacts conservation as a whole.
I chose to travel to Donsol for the sole purpose of witnessing the great Gentle Giant in its most natural form and it is a huge responsibility and privilege to have had the honor of doing so and I hope that I am able to share and bring my stories about the endangered Whale Shark to justice.
MEET THE LOCAL GUIDES
Local guides kuya Joseph Avisado, kuya Ronald Yanson, and the whole crew, work together to spot shadows in the water, indicative of a Whale Shark sighting.
They climb to the top and to the front of the boat, waiting for the divine timing of seeing a Gentle Giant from above.
Successfully, we were fortunate enough to catch sight of not only one but two Butandings, and kuya Ronald ensured that I could swim fast enough to swim above and beside these amazing animals.
CONSERVATION STATUS:
ENDANGERED
Listed as endangered by the IUCN, Whale Sharks are threatened by habitat loss due to overfishing, coastal development, pollution, and increased boat traffic.
In other places, Butandings are also unfortunately hunted for their meat despite laws and ordinances protecting them.
While Whale Sharks have a long lifespan, their maturation period is late-meaning that they are dying faster than they can reproduce.
Today, there are approximately 1,950 whale sharks in the Philippines and we must do our part in conserving this species by supporting local conservation groups that fight to protect them and resisting human development in coastal habitats.
ENDANGERED SPECIES DAY
In commemoration of Endangered Species Day, we want to celebrate it by spreading awareness about the world’s largest living fish-the Whale Shark.
Also called gentle giants, they can grow up to 20 meters long and can reach the size of a school bus! Although they are sharks, this species is very docile and pose no threats to humans.
Whale Sharks feed on plankton and travel large distances to find enough food to sustain their huge size and to reproduce.
They are found in all tropical oceans of the world and their white spotted coloration makes these gentle giants easy to distinguish and popular with snorkelers and divers at sites where they aggregate off the coast.
Today is a very important day to remember not only endangered species but all species as a whole. All animals have the right to live peacefully and freely, no matter how big or small.
Source: (WWF)
MY EXPERIENCE
Never in my life would I have imagined swimming above and alongside such a magnificent animal, and it makes it all the more important knowing that they’re endangered.
It all the more ignites my passion in advocating for the protection of all species-endangered or not, from the smallest insect to the biggest shark and I can’t wait to expand Our Endangered to be what more it could be.
This is why I do what I do: not only for my advocacy of fighting for animal rights but also for being able to share my stories with the world and inspire others to realize that animals and humans are not so different after all. At the end of the day, I believe that our lives are so intertwined with nature and that is something that is worth fighting for.
FUN FACTS
Did you know that the Philippine ₱100 bill showcases the country's rich heritage? On the front, you'll find President Manuel A. Roxas, and on the reverse side, the stunning Mayon Volcano and the majestic whale shark (butanding) steal the spotlight! Although whale shark hunting has been part of the country's past, these magnificent creatures have now become an iconic symbol for tourism.
This significant gesture serves as a testament to our ability to learn from the past, strive for improvement in the present, and rectify the mistakes we once made.
THE UNIQUENESS OF WHALE SHARKS
CLOSING UP MY STORIES OF THE BUTANDING
Whale sharks are unique in several ways: they are not whales but filter-feeding sharks, facing difficulty in eating due to their mouth's incredible four-foot width and feeding on tiny prey using their gill rakers; they can live up to 150 years and migrate long distances at a slow speed of around 3 miles per hour; unfortunately, they are under threat from deliberate fin hunting for the Asian delicacy market and the continuous danger their ocean home faces due to climate change.
The Butanding Festival in the Philippines, specifically in the seaside town of Donsol, celebrates the presence of whale sharks in the area. This festival has helped boost the local economy since the discovery of a large cluster of whale sharks off the coast in 1998. International Whale Shark Day, observed on August 30, aims to raise public awareness about the conservation needs of this endangered species.
As the Month of the Ocean comes to an end, I would like to express my sincerest gratitude for tagging along with my #StoriesoftheButanding
This was my first time initiating a campaign like this and it was genuinely cathartic sharing mine and OE volunteer Mercedes’ experiences with the Butanding.
In light of this, I hope we have succeeded in spreading awareness about why Whale Sharks are endangered and how important it is to conserve and celebrate them.
We not only disseminated information, facts, and research about this species, but I also learned a lot of new things about them. One being: individual changes eventually become collective actions for the conservation of endangered species and to truly achieve the goal of protecting our wildlife, we earnestly need to work together by resisting speciesism, educating ourselves, and empowering all those who fight for the rights of all species.
With this, I truly believe that Whale Sharks will flourish in their natural habitats, with proper guidance, respect, and ethical ecotourism, for more generations to come and experience the great Gentle Giant.