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Five (5) Whale Sharks were spotted and reported to DENR IX official Facebook page DENR Zamboanga Peninsula by its FB follower CH AI RA in Katipunan, Zamboanga del Norte.
 
The sightings were documented in video made by CH AI RA and shared to DENR IX official FB account.
 
The marine animals were sighted at around 7:00 in the morning of February 18, 2023 at the shorelines of Barangays Uno and San Antonio in the Municipality of Katipunan, Zamboanga del Norte and was immediately reported to the Community of Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of Manukan.
 
CENRO Manukan personnel Forester Ferolito T. Cata-al, who immediately proceeded to the site, was able to provide information to the gatherings of local residents watching and documenting the presence of “Butanding” along their coastal zone.
 
According to Forester Cataal, the five marine species were identified as Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) or locally known as “Butanding”. These marine species are not dangerous to humans unlike other shark species. It was also observed that the said marine species were in good condition. Local residents where immediately advised to keep distance from the said wildlife to avoid the latter from getting stressed.
 
The presence of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Katipunan Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), Local Bureau of Fishery and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and Local Government Unit of the Municipality of Katipunan, Zamboanga del Norte helped a lot in controlling the situation in the area.
 
Eventually, the said marine species went back to its natural habitat by mid-afternoon.
 
It is known that Whale Sharks regulate the ocean’s plankton levels and prevent these microscopic organisms’ numbers from growing without restriction – something that could have a negative effect on ocean environment (Galảpagos Conservancy). Thus, its presence is a good indicator of a rich and healthy marine ecosystem.
 
DENR Administrative Order No. 2019-09 otherwise known as Updated National List of Threatened Philippine Fauna and their categories does not include whale sharks in their list, it is still classified as “ENDANGERED” species by the International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and accordingly its species recovery is only 29% or largely depleted due to decreasing rate in population and being threatened across its range.
 
These marine species are protected under Republic Act 9147 or the “Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act”, which prohibits anybody from collecting, hunting, injuring and killing/destroying of wildlife species, including handling/possessing of wildlife without permits/licenses.
 
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Video source: @CH AI RA