A whale shark carcass washed up along the Bacolod City coastline on Friday, October 30, 2026, prompting city authorities and multiple government agencies to mount a recovery and disposal operation that ended with the animal being buried at the Barangay Felisa sanitary landfill.
The Bacolod City Agriculture Office estimated the dead butanding — the local name for the whale shark — at roughly seven meters long and weighing between three and four tons, according to reports from Tribune, Philstar, Brigada News, and the Daily Guardian.
Heavy Equipment Deployed as Multiple Agencies Respond
The operation drew participation from the Bacolod City Government, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), the Philippine Coast Guard, Bantay Dagat, local fishermen, and volunteers. Given the animal's considerable size and weight, heavy equipment was brought in to lift the carcass off the shoreline and transport it to the disposal site.
The carcass was subsequently interred at the Barangay Felisa sanitary landfill.
Mayor Cites Health Risk as Basis for Swift Action
Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya said the city government acted quickly to coordinate the burial in order to head off a potential public health hazard, according to city officials. The mayor and city officials likewise expressed gratitude to all the agencies and individuals who took part in the recovery and disposal effort.
Cause of Death Still Unknown
As of the time of reporting, no determination had been made as to what caused the whale shark's death.
Species Protected Under Philippine Fisheries Law
Under Philippine fisheries regulations, whale sharks are classified as a protected species. The law prohibits their capture, killing, sale, and unauthorized possession.
Source: Tribune, Philstar, Brigada News, Daily Guardian