This is the dramatic moment a group of local fishermen freed a whale shark trapped in their net in the Philippines.

Footage captured by Marlon Bueza shows panicked locals working together to rescue the struggling sea creature in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte.

Several anglers dived into the water to help the giant marine animal escape from the mesh on Sunday, July 27.

Marlon said: 'We did not hurt the whale shark. It was just too big, so we couldn't immediately free it from the net. We were actually catching skipjack tuna and salmon.'

Local media reported that the animal was unharmed during the rescue, although the fishermen's net was damaged.

Residents said encounters with this gentle giant are common in their area.

The whale shark is the largest species of fish in the world. Despite its size, it is a filter feeder, eating plankton, small fish, and other microscopic organisms by swimming with its mouth wide open to filter food.

The species is listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as Endangered as it faces a high risk of extinction in the wild due to threats like habitat destruction, fishing pressures, and accidental capture in fishing gear.

Known for their non-aggressive nature, these creatures pose no threat to humans and often allow close approaches by divers and fishermen alike.