BUTANDING (Protect and Preserve)

              Like humans, sea animals have the right to live here on Earth. They have also contribution in the ecosystem just to make it balance. These animals made our world beautiful yet some people did not even realize it's worth, sad to say but true. These people became predators especially on those remote islands wherein large quantity of these species exist. They've been caught and sold for big money that's why advocates of this giant sea animal alarmed for its extinction.

           It is the whale shark (Rhincodon typus), Butanding for its local name. The species originated about 60 million years ago and can be found in the coastal areas in Africa, Mexico and mostly in Bicol Region, Cebu and Batangas here in the Philippines.

         Butanding travels across oceans usually close to the equator. They measure between 18 to 35 feet in length and weigh about 20 tons. They are easily recognized for their broad head and a random of white dots and lines along their backs. Their giant body projects its natural physical appearance. Their skin blooms in the blue ocean.

        In contrast to what their petrifying name seems to mean, these Butanding are not really dangerous living thing as not what we think. Butanding doesn't have the capability to bite and chew. They just easily suck in water with prey like plankton, shrimp, anchovy, small crabs and other small fishes. Their large and capacious mouth which can be up to 1.5 meters (4.9 ft) wide were lined with thousands of little teeth. These sharks have distinct spots in their skin that makes them unique in one another and are useful for counting populations. Butanding have two small eyes that are located towards the front of their flat head. Their body is majority grey with a white belly. Their tails have a larger upper than lower fin while the adult's tail becomes crescent in shape.

            The Philippine government declared the whale shark as an endangered species in 1998, together with the implementing of orders and coastal security. Moreover, these whale sharks improved the tourism campaign in the Philippines. There have been no cases of whale shark taking humans as prey otherwise fishermen hunt and plunder them as their source of income. Butanding can entertain people by their gentle not terrifying actions.   They just look scary but they are friendly and playful. We should realize their worth as a creature of God. Let's just think, for instance, whale sharks are like human too breathing to survive by means of their own.