23/05/2026
WALAY BUTANDING NAGPAKITA? Oslob Tourism Office Clarifies Whale Sharks Have Not Disappeared
The Municipality of Oslob Tourism Office has clarified that the whale sharks, locally known as โbutanding,โ have not disappeared despite claims circulating online on Thursday morning, May 22, 2026.
The clarification came after several social media posts and videos showed tourists waiting for hours in Oslob without seeing a single whale shark during the scheduled interaction period.
In a video shared online by Hans Walter Paragele Romera, tourists who already paid the required fees were seen patiently waiting along the shoreline and aboard boats while operators continued monitoring the sea for any sign of the gentle giants.
According to Hans, it was the first time he personally witnessed no whale sharks appearing in the area despite tourists and operators waiting as early as 4:00 a.m. He added that not even a single butanding surfaced during the waiting period.
Several visitors reportedly traveled from different parts of the Philippines and abroad for the well-known whale shark interaction experience, only to face delays and uncertainty as no sightings were reported that morning. Some tourists remained on standby for hours hoping the whale sharks would eventually appear.
Following the viral posts online, the Municipality of Oslob Tourism Office explained that the whale sharks were only observed in a neighboring barangay due to the seasonal abundance of planktons, which serve as part of their natural food source. Because of the increased presence of planktons in nearby waters during this period, the whale sharks naturally moved there to feed.
Officials assured the public that whale shark interaction activities and tourism operations in Oslob continue as normal and that the whale sharks remain within the surrounding waters.
The tourism office also reminded the public to avoid spreading unverified information online and instead rely on official announcements and credible sources regarding the situation.
Whale sharks are migratory marine species known to move between nearby areas depending on food availability and ocean conditions, making such movement part of their natural natural behavior.
Photo by Lumad Cebuano, via Ariel Alegado
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