Rare whale shark sighting draws crowds off Camarines Sur coast

LEGAZPI CITY, ALBAY — Residents of Barangay Baybay in Calabanga, Camarines Sur gathered along the coast Thursday afternoon after two whale sharks appeared in the shallow waters off their municipality. The sighting drew significant attention from the local community, who observed the massive marine animals swimming in close proximity to the shoreline.

According to Paul Christian Santos, village chief of Barangay Baybay, residents first noticed the whale sharks as they moved through the waters near the coast. The appearance of the two creatures sparked curiosity among locals, who took the opportunity to observe the rare visitors from a safe distance.

Whale sharks, the world's largest fish species, are occasionally spotted in Philippine waters but remain relatively uncommon in coastal areas. The animals typically inhabit deeper ocean regions and are generally shy of human activity, making Thursday's sighting a notable event for the Camarines Sur community.

The whale sharks remained in the area for several hours before moving back into deeper waters. Local authorities did not report any incidents during the encounter, and residents were advised to maintain a safe distance from the marine animals.