Davao Gulf is a
gulf situated in the southeastern portion of
Mindanao in the
Philippines.[1] It has an area of 5,200 km2 (2,000 sq mi) or about 520,000 hectares.[2] Davao Gulf cuts into the island of Mindanao from the
Philippine Sea.[3] It is surrounded by all five
provinces in the
Davao Region.[4] The largest island in the gulf is
Samal Island.
Davao City, on the Gulf's west coast, is the largest and busiest port on the gulf.[5] The
Bagobo and the
Kaagan /
Kalagan, who are the indigenous
Lumad tribes endemic to Davao, are known inhabitants of the said gulf.[6]
Wildlife
The gulf water is regarded as one of the most diverse
cetacean habitats in the nation, being home to at least 10 species of
toothed whales and
dolphins such as
sperm whales and
beaked whales.[7] Also,
whale sharks and
sea cows are seen frequently.[8][9] Furthermore, several ecological phenomena have been observed in Davao Gulf such as a previously unknown predator of the
crown-of-thorns starfish, new species records, and new species discoveries underlining the uniqueness of the marine resources in Davao Gulf.[10][11][12][13]