Donsol, Sorsogon - The Home of Responsible Whale Shark Encounters:

Donsol hosts one of the largest aggregations of whale sharks in the world, making it a prime destination for unforgettable encounters. The rich waters of Donsol Bay, fed by the Donsol River, are teeming with the plankton and krill that these giants feed on, drawing them back year after year. Before 1998, Donsol was a quiet fishing village. The discovery of large whale shark gatherings transformed its economy. In partnership with organizations like WWF, Donsol developed a community-based whale shark ecotourism program, setting global standards for responsible interaction.

"Butanding Festival": Every April, Donsol celebrates the "Butanding Festival" (Butanding is the local Tagalog term for whale shark) with colorful parades and festivities, honoring the creature that brought prosperity and recognition to their town.

Donsol strictly enforces guidelines to ensure the protection and well-being of the whale sharks. Interactions are solely through snorkeling, allowing for observation in their natural habitat without disturbing their behavior. Touching the whale sharks is strictly prohibited.

• The whale shark ecotourism program has significantly uplifted the local economy, providing new job opportunities for former fishermen as tour guides and whale shark interaction officers, and transforming Donsol into a thriving municipality.

Donsol, Sorsogon, is renowned as the "Whale Shark Capital of the Philippines" for a reason. It offers an unparalleled opportunity to witness and interact with the ocean's largest fish in a truly responsible and awe-inspiring way.

Facts about Butanding (Whale Sharks): • Despite their massive size, whale sharks are indeed fish, not whales. They are the largest known fish species, with adults typically reaching 4 to 12 meters (13 to 39 feet) in Donsol, and some recorded up to an astounding 18 meters (59 feet) in length and weighing up to 40 tons. But don't let their size intimidate you. Whale sharks are filter feeders, consuming microscopic plankton and small fish. They pose no threat to humans and are known for their docile nature, earning them the nickname "gentle giants of the ocean.

• Each whale shark has a unique pattern of white spots and stripes on its dark grey skin, similar to a human fingerprint. This distinctive "fingerprint" allows researchers and even citizen scientists to identify and track individual sharks. Also uniquely, some whale sharks have tiny, tooth-like scales called dermal denticles on their eyeballs, believed to provide an extra layer of protection, as they don't have eyelids.

• While they have over 300 rows and thousands of tiny teeth (less than an inch long), these are vestigial and not used for biting or chewing. Instead, they filter feed by opening their massive mouths (which can stretch up to 2 meters wide) and straining plankton through their gills.

• Whale sharks are found in warm tropical seas worldwide and can migrate thousands of miles. However, they are relatively slow swimmers, averaging around 3 mph. These incredible creatures can live for a very long time, with some estimates suggesting they can reach up to 70 to 100 years old, and possibly even up to 150 years.