A dead adult whale shark, locally known as a butanding, was found along the coast of Barangay 35 in Bacolod City on the morning of Oct. 30, 2026.
The City Agriculture Office and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources responded after receiving a report of the discovery.
The City Agriculture Office estimated that the whale shark was about 7 meters long and weighed between 3 and 4 metric tons.
Authorities believed low tide may have left the animal stranded along the shore, preventing it from returning to deeper waters. No visible wounds or injuries were found on its body.
The BFAR issued clearance for the city to remove and bury the whale shark.
The operation will involve the City Agriculture Office, the Bacolod Environment and Natural Resources Office, the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and the City Engineer’s Office.
The agencies will coordinate their work as they handle the animal along the Barangay 35 shoreline. The city will use heavy equipment to carry out the removal and burial.
Officials did not report any further findings about the whale shark or establish what caused its death. The possible low-tide stranding has not been confirmed as the cause of death.
