By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

A whale shark was rescued by authorities after it was caught by fishermen off the coast of Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, last Sunday.
In a Facebook post by Carlos Hilado Memorial State College (CHMSC) College of Fisheries Professor Ray Manzano, the whale shark measured an estimated six meters in length, weighed 3.5 tons, and was around 15 years old.
Manzano noted it is the first time they have encountered the animal in their waters, and sought assistance from neighboring town and city government agencies in order to help in the release of the animal.
Experts believe the whale shark, or “Butanding” as it is called locally, was trying to find food when it became tangled up in fishermen’s nets.
The captured animal was later towed and released back into open sea./WDJ