CASA BIANCA BEACH RESORT

DONSOL WHALE SHARK INTERACTION Swimming with a Whale Shark, locally known as Butanding (scientific name: Rhincodon typus) is the epitome of wildlife encounters – an experience of a lifetime, a nature enthusiast or ecotour fanatic cannot afford to miss. And such a singular experience is offered, nowhere else, but in the waters off Sorsogon Province, particularly in the towns of Donsol, Pilar, Castilla and Magallanes, where one can watch or interact with a Butanding, or even several – some 10 to 15 of them at any one time on lucky days. Such a phenomenon cannot be found in other parts of the country, or even in other parts of the world. In fact, Donsol is now dubbed by enormously awed and satisfied tourists as the “Whale Shark Capital of the World”. It is in the waters off Donsol where such a phenomenally large number of Whale Sharks congregate, cavort and caper. These gentle giants of the sea – considered the largest fishes in the world, measuring from 15 ft. to as long as 40 ft. in length, have been observed to converge in the waters off Donsol starting sometime during the months of October and November, and peaks in the months of February to May. The Butandings, featuring silvery polka dots all over its huge body, feeding only on plankton and krill, are harmless, gentle, friendly and playful, allowing humans to swim, play and interact with them, as they ponderously glide alongside seacraft. And then, the gentle giants quietly disappear. Nobody knows yet where they go during the rest of the year. But the seasoned Donsol fisherman assures, the Butandings sill surely be back again sometime in October, November or December for the start of another wholesome ecotourism adventure – the incomparable Whale Shark/Butanding Interaction. Only in Sorsogon FROM WIKIPIDEDIA: Donsol is a popular tourist destination for whale shark viewing which can be seen in its bordering seas. Swimming with whale sharks was featured as the Best Animal Encounter in Asia by Time Magazine in 2004. Whale sharks can be seen between November and June, with presence peaking between February and May. The presence of whale Sharks in the town of Donsol was known to the local residents over 100 years. But the locals believed these gentle giants were sharks and dangerous. This wrong notion changed when in January 1998, a group of scuba divers led by Romir Aglugub – a PADI diving instructor, discovered its presence, and interacted and came in contact with the Whale Sharks. Even the members of the diving group of Romir was having second thought if the fish is docile, until the instructor led the way into the water and came in contact with the whale shark. Copy of video footage taken by the group was passed on to the media and the WWF-Philippines. The original amateur video is on file by the Instructor as proof of the first video recording of the Discovery. By March 1998, Donsol became world-class tourist destination and now known as the “Whale Shark Capital of the World”.