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| Whale sharks can grow to lengths up to 18m, weigh up to 40 tons and live up to 100 years. Photo credit to Gutsy Tuazon. Check out Donsol Eco Tour here. |
March 11, 2012
Donsol, Sorsogon
This I promised myself: not to patronize dolphin shows, not to attend rodeo or buffalo festivals, and not to promote zoo and ocean parks. It's not that I hate animals, it's just that I feel very strongly for these living creatures that are taken from their natural habitat, locked up in a cage and are being put to major harm and stress.
Whale sharks (Rhincodon Typus), known locally in Bicol as Butanding, is the world's largest fish. These massive and gentle animals appear in Donsol waters in considerable numbers between December and May each year. This is also the same time when tourists can have a chance to swim alongside these animals.
When I learned about this whale shark interaction in Donsol, I thought of how tourism may affect the welfare of these gentle giants. I tried to weigh the pros and cons and asked myself how my presence as a tourist could affect these animals. After giving it some thought, I was convinced to give it a try. The interactions happen in the shark's natural habitat, at least they are not thrown in some giant aquariums away from where they really should be. I also read the guidelines being enforced by the tourism officers in Donsol and realized that if followed religiously, these wild animals should be fine.