Natagpuan sa Pilipinas ang pinakaunang naitalang pregnant megamouth shark sa mundo, ayon sa National Museum of the Philippines.

Sa pahayag ng National Museum noong Biyernes, Disyembre 1, ibinahagi nitong natagpuang patay ang isang megamouth shark (𝑀𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑠𝑚𝑎 𝑝𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑔𝑖𝑜𝑠) sa Brgy. Ipil, Dipaculao, Aurora noong Nobyembre 14, 2023.

May haba umano ang naturang pating na 5.6 metro at buntis sa pito nitong anak.

“Necropsy was conducted on the mother megamouth shark and one of its pups by Dr. Princess Ann Tayag, Vet II of the Fisheries and Quarantine Unit of BFAR III with the supervision of Dr. AA Yaptinchay of Marine Wildlife Watch of the Philippines (MWWP) via video call from Manila,” anang National Museum.

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Magna cum laude graduate na pinagsuot ng toga ang ama, kinaantigan

Magna cum laude graduate na pinagsuot ng toga ang ama, kinaantigan

“The examined sharks were later buried for future retrieval,” dagdag nito.

Samantala, sa pakikipagtulungan umano kay Dr. Nico Jose Leander ng BFAR III-RFRDC, sa pamamagitan ni Dr. Jo Marie Acebes ng Balyena.org, ay inilipat ang natitirang anim na megamouth shark pups sa National Museum of the Philippines upang isailalim sa detalyadong pagsusuri.

“The examination was led by Dr. Yaptinchay and Elson Aca, both from MWWP and the Philippine Aquatic Red List Committee (PARLC), with the assistance of the staff from NMP-Zoology Division and volunteers from MWWP and Beterinaryo sa Fort Animal Clinic. The specimens will be fixed and preserved for further research and study. It will be part of NMP’s reference collections and future exhibitions,” saad ng pambansang museo.

Taong 1976 lamang umano nang madiskubre ang elusive megamouth shark, ang pinakamaliit sa tatlong species ng filter-feeding sharks na kinabibilangan ng butanding at basking sharks.

Mayroon umano itong napakalaking bunganga, dahilan kaya’t pinangalanan itong megamouth shark.

“The Philippines is one of the most important habitats for the megamouth shark, ranking number two globally, next to Taiwan, with the greatest number of reports for this species. Unfortunately, majority of the megamouth sharks recorded from the Philippines are from stranding and accidental capture in fishing gear resulting in the death of the animal,” saad ng National Museum.