Come to Gorontalo Province. There is an interesting phenomenon there. According to Acting Governor of Gorontalo Prof. Zudan Arif Fakrulloh, Botubarani Beach in Bone Bolango Regency, Gorontalo is suddenly popular among local and foreign tourists. The reason is, no other because of the existence of whale shark (Rhincodon typus) who settled on the beach.
The once desolate village of Butubarani, in the last three years suddenly crowded with tourists who want to see and interact with whale shark whale or shark in English. The largest fish species is a plankton-eating shark. Eating habits by filtering sea water like most other types of whales. "At least I see there are three whale sharks swimming in the waters around this place," Zudan said when the opportunity to witness the rare animal, Tuesday (15/11/2016).
Zudan said the emergence of whale sharks on the coast of Botubarani began three years ago with the operation of a vaname shrimp factory in Botubarani that dumped its waste into the sea and became a whale shark puller. Because the waste is fertilizing plankton who became one of the whale shark food.
"Whale shark tourism has become a tourism magnet of Bone Bolango district in Gorontalo province, with tourists visiting at whale shark locations of 52,000 visitors, from local, archipelago and overseas," Zudan said.
Zudan admitted to be amazed by the huge benefits felt by the surrounding community, as well as travel agents especially in improving the economy of society.
Zudan revealed there are about 18 whale sharks that appear between April to August.
"And now there are four tails that appear each day and have been fitted TAG by the Center of Coastal and Marine Resources Management (BPSPL) Makassar in order to study the whale shark path in Gorontalo," said Zudan,
Zudan also mentioned the specialty of whale shark tourism Botubarani Gorontalo is easily accessible location, which is only 20-30 meters from the beach.
"Whale sharks are very tame and tourists are able to chat with whale sharks, and whale sharks are also delighted to be fed by visitors," he said.
To see the whale sharks, the community must rent a boat at Rp 15,000 per person. To lure whale sharks out of the water surface every boat is equipped with food, one or more shrimp shell wrap sold for Rp 10,000 per pack. If calculated roughly the income from boat rental and food bait in the last two months almost reached Rp 400 million.
Because tame visitors can mingle or swim together near whale sharks. The food provided is a shrimp head which is a factory waste. "Or nike or small fish endemic that only exist in Gorontalo in certain seasons," said Zudan Arif Fakrulloh.
Regent of Bone Bolango Gorontalo, Hamim Pou admitted, the atmosphere in Botubarani is still the atmosphere of the village. "But it is true that here tourism is managed by rural management where the surrounding communities benefit from the existence of this shark whale," Hamim said.
He agrees with the Governor's Plt, even though the village atmosphere but must be clean and arranged well.
"There is a toilet, there is a room rinse, food is also food village but still can be enjoyed by everyone," he continued again.
Next he wants to set the village around the beach in this year also.
"We're going to fit the umbrellas and then the stalls along the beach will be arranged so that there will be empty space here, so it will be much better for those who will come in. We are ashamed if it is still the model," Hamim said.
