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Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) or "Butanding" in the Philippines
The largest fish specie is the Rhincodon Typus or "Butanding" (as it is called in the Philippines) known worldwide as the Whale Shark. The myth that most sharks eats humans is contrary to the gentle habits of whale sharks. Donsol, Sorsogon, a preferred sanctuary or "home" to more than 50 whale sharks interact with humans during the peak season of February to May each year.
Nowhere else in the world, not even Australia, have these gentle creatures been found in such great numbers. "Butandings" (whale sharks) travel the world's oceans, taking repeated excursions through Batangas and Palawan enjoying the warm tropical waters of the Philippines.
They have a lifespan of 100 years and reaches sexual maturity at age 30, measuring 11 meters weighing 20 tons,they are threatened by "shark-fin commercial trawlers" who chops off their fins for "shark-fin soup" and throw the rest of the "still alive" shark carcass back into the sea. You can help safeguard their numbers, track their population, and identify each individual "butanding" or whale shark.
This is part of the marine conservation efforts of an Australian named Brad Norman. In October 2006, he was the recipient of the 12th Rolex Awards for Enterprise, among 4 others, for implementing the Whale Shark Photo Identification Library--a global visual database for whale shark conservation.
The whale sharks ("Butanding") has a uniquely identifiable body print, much like a human thumbprint. Each whale shark has a unique set of spots behind its gills. These patterns of dots help identify each individual whale shark. An algorithm, developed by Brad Norman, similarly used in celestial star triangulation (like starmapping in the skies), help identify and track each individual whale shark anywhere in the worlds' oceans.
As the whale shark matures, the spots grow larger but the angles between the unique print of dots do not change !!! The "spot pattern recognition algorithm" correctly identifies each whale shark, no matter where in the worlds oceans it may travel. How can you participate in this global effort ? Next time you dive, take a photo of a whale shark and submit to :
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copyright@2008
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