Whale breeding ground discovered in Isabela

Eco-tourists may soon be flocking to the sprawling Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park in Isabela for humpback whale watching.

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has determined that two of the four coastal towns within the sprawling natural park are potential breeding grounds of the endangered whale species.

There are seven towns that straddle the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park.

"We had twelve encounters with humpback whales, six of which were mother and calf pairs in the towns of Maconacon and Divilacan. We were even able to record 45 minutes of their songs or vocalizations. This information substantiates that the coast of the Northern Sierra Madre is a breeding ground for migratory humpback whales," said Dr. Jo Marie Acebes, WWF Faunal Wildlife Coordinator.

In 1999, marine biologists also discovered that the Babuyan Islands is a mating and breeding ground for migratory humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae).

Last January, the WWF conducted a five-month study which determined that the eastern coast of the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park as a breeding area for the endangered humpback whales.

According to the WWF, they are now conducting further studies that would determine the distribution, abundance and seasonality of humpback whales in the natural park area. The results of the studies will contribute to the design of an eco-tourism plan.

Isabela residents have also something to cheer about. The presence of these animals qualify their area for eco-tourism activity much like the whale shark interaction in Donsol, Sorsogon, which the WWF also helps to coordinate, said Acebes.

Humpback whales and Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins are potential drawers of watching tours as they have the tendency to go near the coasts. In addition, she said, humpback whales are present in the Philippines during the summer months while Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins tend to be present in the country all-year round in aggregate small groups.

Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), are large baleen whales that are noted for their singing and acrobatics. Acebes said that they migrate to their their breeding areas in the Babuyan Islands, Japan and Hawaii between January and May. After mating and giving birth, they return to their feeding areas in Alaska.

According to the WWF website, there are over 10,000-15,000 humpback whales world-wide. If plans for eco-tourism push through, tourists could reach the humpback breeding ground by bus to Tuguegarao City and then by small plane. Upon reaching the natural park, tourists will have to transfer to boats which will take them to the breeding grounds.

However, Acebes said many factors still have to be considered in drafting the eco-tourism design aside from tourists’ convenience. Acebes said that the WWF is still determining the possible impact of eco-tourism on the natural parks intact ridge to reef ecosystem.