Oslob – Boljoon Whale Shark Butanding Watching Gone Wrong

It’s rare I get stress. It’s rare when I am so overwrought with disgusts that I can’t help but do extreme things. Certainly I don’t go posting comments on facebook that will see me nanggagala-iti sa inis but I was, am still am and I can’t stop myself from commenting and yes blogging about my frustrations. I’m seeing all these pics right now that shows how badly some people treat the whalesharks in Oslob. So disappointing and so stupid behavior from individuals.

And yes this also pertains to the ‘authorities’ that are supposed to ‘protect’ these whale sharks. HELLO!!! What are you doing? Why did you not stop all these stupid people from touching, stressing this gentle giant? Grabe kayo! Pinagkaka-kitaan niyo na ang whale shark watching tapos you don’t take care of them????!!! Ugghhhh.

The pic is not mine, it’s from a facebook post. To the owner of the images of whale shark watching gone wrong below: I am sorry I  shared the photos na di ka kinikontak. I tried I can’t seem to find the real owner as the butanding images has become sort of viral. I’m hoping that by sharing the pics, it will raise awareness and hopefully will lead to more protection for the whale shark that visits Oslob and nearby places.

Please email me at penfires[@]gmail(dot)com if you want me to take it off or so that I can give you proper credit.

Tourist Stressing Oslob Whale Shark (updated: in Boljoon not Oslob)

Why are authorities allowing this happen? The rule says you must at least be 3 meters AWAY from the Oslob Whale Shark, yet this picture shows the poor animal being clambered on by these people.  This is bad tourist behavior. No, that is wrong, this is awful behavior period.

And wait…is that a certified fisherman – whale shark watching guide in their ‘allowing’ these people to climb, touch, stress the whale shark?  Please say no.

Cebu Authorities please wake up, this is happening right before your eyes. Please do something.  Eco-Tourism in Cebu is big yet these pics signify that we are not taking care of the very things that’s bringing in more tourists to our province.

Here is another pic circulating in Facebook of tourists behaving badly and a mark against the highly popular whale shark tourism in Cebu. 

This Cebu Whale Shark is NOT A SURFBOARD!!!! 

A big NO – NO girl riding butanding in Boljoon

Cebu is blessed to have these butanding, these gentle giants  visit our shore, please LET US TAKE CARE OF THEM. Let’s not wait for these whale sharks to completely abandon our island because they are harm.  Let’s respect all creatures of the sea.

Guys, if you know or have any connection to proper government authorities, personnel  or to newspaper reporters, please let them know this is going around.  Let’s make noise!!! Let us all help save these whale shark from trauma and stress.  Let’s put a stop to this mal-practice.

Update April 01: Some claims that the pictures of tourists behaving badly is that of Boljoon and not Oslob. Boljoon is the next town of Oslob so these whale sharks are still the same whale sharks that visit Oslob, right?  These butandings most likely visit nearby places too. I hope people will treat these magnificent creatures with respect that they deserve kahit saan mang place sila mapadpad. Eco- tourism education is badly needed. 

Please share this post or call the attention of those  authorities that truly care including those from tourism until they do something about this. Let’s also do our share by NOT DOING what the people on the photo did.  Let’s keep these gentle giants unharmed,  safe and respected.  Let’s protect all wildlife.

RESPECT THE WHALESHARKS!!!

Update a week after this butanding pic in Boljoon went viral in Facebook: The LGU or Local Government Unit of Boljoon as well as the Cebu Provincial Government have taken action regarding this incident. Stricter rules will be imposed as well as mass education of the communities these whale sharks or buntanding visit will be undertaken. And also the girl who rode the butanding has expressed remorse and  asked sorry over what happen on national television.

I hope from henceon these gentle giants will be protected and unharmed. Also that incident like this will not happen again, not anywhere in the Philippines, not anywhere in the world. May this be a lesson for everyone.