Nature of whale sharks

The whale shark (rhincodon typus) is the world’s largest fish. Known in Donsol as “butanding” and as “balilan,” “kulwano,” “tawiki,” and “toki” in other parts of the Philippines, whale sharks are known to grow to lengths of up to 18 meters, weigh up to 40 tons and live up to more than 100 years.

Whale sharks appear in Donsol waters in considerable numbers between December and May of each year taking advantage of dense food concentration of plankton, krill, small fish, squid and invertebrate larvae. With Donsol as a seasonal feeding ground for whale sharks, scientists and environmentalists have the opportunity to study them more. The whale sharks’ arrival also prompts the host community to provide butanding interaction tours, where visitors have the chance to swim alongside these majestic creatures.

If you are interested,

Sorsogon’s accessibility from Manila

Sorsogon is an hour away via excellent roads from Legazpi City, which is turn is 12 hours by land or an hour by air from Manila. Tour packages under “The Philippines: Explore. Experience. Return.” program can be downloaded in the travel planner of the program’s portal www.experiencephilippines.ph, where interested travelers can directly book with agents in the United States and Canada.

For individual travelers, there are several vans for hire at the Legazpi domestic airport as well as passenger vans and public utility buses at the Legazpi City bus terminals going to Donsol, Sorsogon. Resorts in Donsol, which have been accredited by the PDOT, include Amor Farm Beach Resort (mobile phone # 63 917-8233802), Vitton Resort (mobile phone # 63 927-2330364) and Woodland Beach Resort (mobile phone # 63 921-9699544). For more information, check the PDOT website at www.wowbicol.com or through telephone number 63 52 435-0085 and email address dotr5@globalink.net.ph. The Donsol Tourism Office in Dancalan headed by Salvador Adrao, Jr. can also be contacted through mobile phone # 63 927-2330364. Snorkeling gears can be rented from the resorts.
Beyond the butanding experience


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