Whale shark caught in net in La Union freed

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Fishermen, beachgoers and environmentalists helped release a whale shark locally known as butanding, which was trapped in a fishing net in San Juan, La Union on Friday.

Carlos Tamayo, head of the sea turtle conservation group CURMA, said fishermen failed to free the whale shark in the sea so they brought it to the shore and sought the help of beachgoers.

Quick response teams from the municipal environment office, policemen and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources also came to assist and supervise the release of the whale shark.

”The butanding, an endangered specie, eventually got to swim back into its ocean, its home,” Tamayo said.