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| 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.
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