Endangered· population decreasing· assessed 2025

Butanding (Whale Shark)

Rhincodon typus

Sighting evidence at Bulusan Bay Whale Shark Zone, Donsol

Photo: Simon Pierce · CC BY-NC

Locally called butanding, these animals are the cultural heart of Donsol's tourism economy. Photo-ID programs run by WWF Philippines have catalogued over 400 individuals returning across multiple seasons, demonstrating strong site fidelity and making Donsol one of the most important whale shark research sites in the world.

Evidence at this site

No confirmed records on file at this site

Butanding (Whale Shark) is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.

How is this calculated?

Sighting evidence is compiled from iNaturalist observation records within a set proximity radius, filtered for quality-grade observations. “Last confirmed” is the date of the most recent research-grade record. Record count covers a rolling 24-month window. Confidence reflects record count, recency, and consistency of seasonal signal.