Both domestic and foreign tourists go to Donsol in Sorsogon and Oslob in Cebu for one thing only: To experience swimming the with the whale shark locally known as butanding.
The practice, while not as disagreeable as, say, putting them in containers like what they do at theme parks, is still endangering the gentle giants.
“The center feeds the whale sharks a big helping of krill to keep them close, practically making them captives in their own home,” according to a report from The Philippine Star.
“Whale sharks are migratory species and the kind of aggregation we see in Oslob or Donsol is not entirely natural. Keeping them from doing their natural behavior will disrupt their biological purpose.”
Because of this, the International Union for Conservation of Nature has included the butanding in its endangered list. Experts say ecotourism may be good for the economy, but harmful for the species used as attraction, says the report.
