Rare whale sharks sighted in El Nido, Palawan

• Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/991572
• Sunday, May 28, 2017

By Celeste Anna R. Formoso (PNA)

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, May 28 — Guests and staff of El Nido Resorts (ENR) got the surprise of their lives Saturday when four whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) greeted them while they were on their way to a private island getaway.

The sighting of the whale sharks was captured on video by a staff of the ENR while on a boat heading towards one of the resort's private islands.

It was posted on the ENR-Be G.R.E.E.N.’s (Guard Respect Educate El Nido) social media page on Facebook Saturday evening, and was shared by Mariglo Laririt, the resorts’ director of sustainability.

The page said: “A rare sighting of the world's largest fish! Who would have thought that a gloomy afternoon’s boat ride will be so much more exciting? Guests and staff headed to one of our island resorts experienced an exciting display of nature’s wonder as they saw four whale sharks swimming just a few meters away. Without any offerings of food, the gentle giants approached the outrigger boat, seemingly curious of the vehicle and its passengers.”

It went on to say that the guide on board requested the boat captain to prevent “inflicting any harm” on the gentle giants.

“What do they get in return? Wildlife interaction at its best as the whale sharks approached the boat and swam just beside it, giving our guests and staff a full view of it!” said the ENR Be G.R.E.E.N., adding it was one wildlife interface they wish everyone to have.

According to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), whale sharks are the “biggest fish and shark in the world.” They wander the oceans in the world, and generally alone.

The slow-moving filter-feeding whale shark is the largest known extant fish species. They are found in open waters of the tropical oceans and are rarely found in water below 22 °C (72 °F).

Aside from El Nido, whale sharks are also sighted in Honda Bay, when the sea is much calmer, from April until November.