Dead whale shark found on Bacolod City shoreline

BACOLOD CITY — Residents of Barangay 35 flocked to the shoreline after a dead whale shark was discovered on Friday morning, Oct. 30, 2026.

According to the City Agriculture Office (CAO), the whale shark measured approximately seven meters long and weighed an estimated three to four metric tons.

Authorities found no visible injuries on its body.

The whale shark is believed to have become stranded along the shoreline during low tide and was unable to return to deeper waters.

However, the exact cause of its death has yet to be established.

In a Facebook post, Mayor Greg Gasataya said the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) had issued clearance for the city government to proceed with the necessary measures.

The city government mobilized personnel from the CAO, Bacolod Environment and Natural Resources Office (BENRO), Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO), and City Engineer’s Office (CEO) to assist in retrieving the carcass using heavy equipment and arranging its proper burial.

Whale sharks, locally known as butanding, are protected under Philippine fisheries regulations, which prohibit their capture, killing, sale, and unauthorized possession.

Authorities advised the public not to approach or photograph whale sharks during encounters, as doing so may cause stress to the animals.