Butanding caught off Pagudpud bay

PAGUDPUD, Ilocos Norte, April 25 (PIA) – A giant Butanding was caught by local fishermen off Pasaleng Bay, this town last Wednesday. The mammal was immediately released into the sea.

Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer Jose Morata said the whale, locally known as Butanding looked healthy and bore no body injury.
He said the members of the “Salluad PARE” (Pagudpud Active Rangers for Environment) also helped the fisher folks as they tenderly freed the whale into the water.

He said Butanding is often seen at the shorelines of Pagudpud town and has become one of the tourist attractions in the area.

It is noted that the whale shark, scientifically – known as Rhincodon typus, is a slow-moving filter feeding shark and is the largest known fish specie.
The largest confirmed whale had a length of 12.65 m (41.50 ft) and a weight of more than 21.5 metric tons (47,000 lb). (FREDDIE G. LAZARO)