Bottlenose dolphin found dead in Ilocos coast

Dolphin found dead in the fishing village of Davila. (Photo courtesy of Arthur Valente)

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff reporter

Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte—A male bottlenose dolphin measuring 2.5 meters was found dead along the rocky exposed littoral zone of sitio 5 in the fishing village of Dilavo, this town.

According to Arthur Valente, Ilocos Norte provincial fisheries regulation officer said the marine mammal was already bloated and in advance decomposition as manifested by the peeling skin and traces of oil coming from its blubber and fouling odor when found by local residents near the area on Saturday.

Local residents helped in carrying the dolphin off the sea for proper disposal. 

Believed to be dead for 2-3 days, Mr. Valente said the dolphin may have drifted to where it was found.

In Ilocos Norte, a quick response team or the so-called volunteers of the Philippine Marine Mammal Stranding Network in Ilocos Norte was organized to respond to stranded sea animals as the province has been one of the identified “hot spots”.

About 2 weeks ago, another male spotted dolphin was stranded and rescued on November 14 at Brgy. Maglaoi in Currimao, Ilocos Norte. Unfortunately, said marine animal died few hours after it was rescued by the group. Prior to its burial, tissue samples were also taken to help identify its cause of death.

With its continuous information and education campaign, local residents in Ilocos Norte are now becoming more aware about the importance of marine animals to maintain balance ecology.

Report shows that marine animals get stranded when they flee fishermen hunting them or they get sick as a result of polluted environments. They also get stranded when they try to flee bad weather, dynamite fishing or get lost when searching for food.