Whale and dolphin strandings in the Philippines

MANILA, Philippines - Each year, thousands of cetacean strandings are reported worldwide. Some die at sea and wash ashore, while others become trapped in shallow water. Left unaided, many die within a day or two. 

About a dozen stranding events are reported in the Philippines yearly, most occurring during the Amihan or north-eastern monsoon from November to March. During this period, strong winds generate stronger-than-usual currents. 

WWF-Philippines vice-chair and CEO Lory Tan says, “Our priority should be to return stranded cetaceans to their natural habitats as soon as possible. WWF conducts these workshops so local leaders know just what to do.” 

Cetacean stranding causes include the presence or a lack of food, predators, stress, injuries, disease, pollution, rough seas, tidal fluctuations, undersea quakes, seismic testing, blast fishing or the disruption of magnetic fields used by some cetaceans for navigation. 

On Dec. 10, 2009, a stranded 29-foot Bryde’s whale (Baleanoptera edeni) was towed and set-free by locals in nearby Barangay Calayo, Nasugbu. 

On Feb. 10, 2009, 300 melon-headed whales (Peponocephala electra) were stranded off the towns of Pilar and Orion in Bataan, in the largest recorded stranding event in Philippine history. Three of the whales died but the majority were herded to deeper waters by volunteers. 

On March 3, 2009, another pod of 100 melon-headed whales was ushered back to deeper waters in Odiongan, Romblon. 

“When I was young, beached dolphins used to be slaughtered for meat,” recounts Hamilo Coast security officer and Barangay Calayo resident Zaldy Flores. “The skills shared by WWF have given us both the competence and confidence to deal with future strandings. We’re now ready to rescue all stranded whales and dolphins in Nasugbu.”