This is the heart-breaking moment an endangered whale shark was found dead - floating in filthy water and covered in plastic pollution.

The 16-feet-long marine creatures washed up at the Navotas fish port in Manila, the Philippines on August 17 at 4am.

Shocked locals hauled the 3000kg beast from the dirty water, with plastic bags and crisp packets still stuck to its body.

The majestic whale shark - a species considered endangered by the IUCN - was pronounced dead at the port.

Arsilo Catipay, NFPC police and security division chief, said the whale shark - known locally as ''butanding'' - had been discovered by a fisherman.

He said: ''The carcass of the butanding was floating about five metres from the shore.

''The fisherman requested assistance from Philippine Coast Guard, which lifted the whale shark from the water at 8am.''

Authorities have now taken the whale shark to the Philippine Fisheries Development where medics will carry out a post-mortem examination to find the cause of death.

According to the Philippines Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), it is possible that the creature was brought by the high waves during the storm that devastated the area last week.

The whale shark's cause of death is still unknown.

The Philippines has some of the most polluted waterways in the world, with rivers in the country's capital, Manila, swamped with rubbish which is carried into the sea.

This is the heartbreaking moment an endangered whale shark was found dead - floating in filthy water and covered in plastic pollution.

The 16ft long marine creatures washed up at the Navotas fish port in Manila, the Philippines on August 17 at 4am.

Shocked locals hauled the 3000kg beast from the dirty water, with plastic bags and crisp packets still stuck to its body.

The majestic whale shark - a species considered endangered by the IUCN - was pronounced dead at the port.

Arsilo Catipay, NFPC police and security division chief, said the whale shark - known locally as ''butanding'' - had been disocvered by fisherman.

He said: ''The carcass of the butanding was floating about five metres from the shore.

''The fisherman requested assistance from Philippine Coast Guard, which lifted the whale shark from the water at 8am.''

Authorities have now taken the whale shark to the Philippine Fisheries Development where medics will carry out a post mortem examination to find the cause of death.

According to the Philippines Bureau of FIsheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), it is possible that the creature was brought by the high waves during the storm that devastated the area last week.

The whale shark's cause of death is still unknown.

The Philippines has some of the most polluted water ways in the world, with rivers in the country's capital, Manila, swamped with rubbish which is carried into the sea.