Bacolod mayor orders burial of 3-ton whale shark; cause of death unknown

BACOLOD CITY — Mayor Greg Gasataya has ordered the burial of a whale shark weighing an estimated three to four tons after it was found stranded and dead along the shoreline of Barangay 35 on Friday, with authorities yet to determine the cause of its death.

A joint on-site assessment by the City Agriculture Office and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) found no evidence of injuries or abuse inflicted by humans on the marine animal, according to a statement issued by the Bacolod City Communications Office on Sunday.

The minor abrasions found on its head and body were likely sustained as the whale shark struggled to free itself after becoming disoriented and trapped upside down in shallow waters as the tide receded, the assessment team said.

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“Most likely, it swam into the shallow area to feed on plankton and small fish before it got stranded. The cause of death is undetermined,” City Agriculturist Maricar Quiro said.

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Some residents, including a local fisherman identified as Jimmy, recalled seeing the whale shark gasping for breath when they first spotted it near the shore.

“It was still breathing but catching its breath. You could see blood there. If it were already bloated, its body would have swollen, and it would have been floating. However, there was still blood present, which means the wounds were fresh,” he said.

The whale shark was first spotted by residents and fishermen at about 5 a.m. on Oct. 30 in the shallow coastal waters of Barangay 35.

Fisherfolk said the animal had long been a familiar sight in local waters, often swimming alongside their boats while they were fishing.

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“They were a mated pair, a male and a female. Usually, we see them in waters 12 meters deep between Guimaras and Negros,” Jimmy said.

Residents recalled that the whale shark appeared uneasy and disoriented as the water level began to recede early Friday morning.

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Upon receiving the report, Gasataya immediately mobilized a multi-agency response team.

Quiro coordinated with BFAR for the on-site examination, followed by a joint retrieval operation involving the Bacolod Environment and Natural Resources Office (BENRO), City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO), City Engineer’s Office, and Philippine Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard helped secure the carcass amid rising tides before it was loaded onto a flatbed truck under BFAR supervision.

“Following the recommendation of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the decision for now is to bury it at the dumpsite, ensuring that the proper precautions and procedures are followed,” Quiro said.

The city government transported the carcass to the Felisa Landfill for burial. To prevent public health risks from decomposition, workers dug a pit deeper than the six-foot minimum burial depth required by the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB).

Gasataya thanked the partner agencies, coastal residents and volunteers who helped retrieve and dispose of the whale shark.

“Although this is part of nature, we hope this is the last time our city gets to witness such a sad incident,” the mayor said in a Facebook post, adding that the city acted promptly to ensure the carcass was properly buried.

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BFAR and the city government reminded the public that whale sharks are protected marine animals that feed on plankton and small fish. They urged residents not to harass, injure or capture the species and to immediately report stranded marine wildlife to authorities for appropriate action. /ms