Whale shark dies while towed ashore off Manila Bay
10/28/2009 | 09:07 AM
A Butanding (whale shark) which fishermen found dying in Manila Bay died as it was towed to an area near the Manila Yacht Club before dawn Wednesday, even as a search is now in progress for its offspring.
Radio reports said fishermen in the area tried to tow the whale shark near Manila Bay’s breakwater after initially mistaking it for a log.
“Nung natagpuan namin ‘yan medyo nakatihaya na siya. Sinabihan ko ang kapatid ko na talian para hatakin papunta sa pampang, baka ma-survive pa. Pagdating dito wala na siyang buhay (When we first saw it, it was already floating on its side. I told my brother to tie a rope around it, and we towed it to where rescuers can help rescue it. But it died on our way to the shore)," one of the fishermen identified as Joey Jara said in an interview on dzRH radio.
He described the whale shark as black-and-gray, and measures 12 to 13 feet long.
The sight of the whale shark at Manila Bay startled early-morning joggers who frequented the area, and caused traffic to grow heavy as motorists slowed down to try to take a closer look.
On the other hand, the Coast Guard is now looking for what fishermen believe to be the whale shark’s offspring which they also saw around the Manila Bay area.
“Habang hinihila ko yan may umaaligid na kauri niya, siguro mga dalawang talampakan, pareho ang hugis sa kanya (While we were towing the whale shark we saw something similar in shape, about two feet long, following us)," a fisherman said.
A report by radio dzBB’s Carlo Mateo said Coast Guard divers found no sign of external injuries on the whale shark.
Initial findings by the Coast Guard showed the whale shark was found some 20 km off the seawall of Manila Bay. Fishermen needed an hour towing the whale shark's body to shore. - GMANews.TV
Radio reports said fishermen in the area tried to tow the whale shark near Manila Bay’s breakwater after initially mistaking it for a log.
“Nung natagpuan namin ‘yan medyo nakatihaya na siya. Sinabihan ko ang kapatid ko na talian para hatakin papunta sa pampang, baka ma-survive pa. Pagdating dito wala na siyang buhay (When we first saw it, it was already floating on its side. I told my brother to tie a rope around it, and we towed it to where rescuers can help rescue it. But it died on our way to the shore)," one of the fishermen identified as Joey Jara said in an interview on dzRH radio.
He described the whale shark as black-and-gray, and measures 12 to 13 feet long.
The sight of the whale shark at Manila Bay startled early-morning joggers who frequented the area, and caused traffic to grow heavy as motorists slowed down to try to take a closer look.
On the other hand, the Coast Guard is now looking for what fishermen believe to be the whale shark’s offspring which they also saw around the Manila Bay area.
“Habang hinihila ko yan may umaaligid na kauri niya, siguro mga dalawang talampakan, pareho ang hugis sa kanya (While we were towing the whale shark we saw something similar in shape, about two feet long, following us)," a fisherman said.
A report by radio dzBB’s Carlo Mateo said Coast Guard divers found no sign of external injuries on the whale shark.
Initial findings by the Coast Guard showed the whale shark was found some 20 km off the seawall of Manila Bay. Fishermen needed an hour towing the whale shark's body to shore. - GMANews.TV
