Rare whale species takes first splash in Bohol sea

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines — A rare species of Bryde's whale that was not seen here before made its first splash last May 2 in the high seas between Jagna and Anda towns, according to a report reaching The FREEMAN only yesterday.

The appearance of the Bryde's whale was spotted and documented by the Physallus, a group of marine biologists---led Dr. Alessandro Ponzo, Josh Silberez and Kristina Pahang-that has been providing technical assistance to a local environment group especially on the rescue of stranded marine mammals.

Bryde's whales, which are baleen whales or whales without teeth, are considered largely coastal rather than pelagic. "They inhabit in tropical and subtropical waters worldwide."

The whale sighted in the seas of Bohol was estimated to measure approximately 10 to 12 meters long.

According to wikipedia.com, the whale was named Bryde in honor of Johan Bryde, a Norwegian consul who had pioneered in setting up whaling station in Durban, South Africa in 1908.

Bryde's whales, which belong to the same group as blue whale and humpback, feed on plankton, crustaceans and fish, such as anchovy or sardines, by way of "skimming the surface," "lunging" and "bubble nets."

Aside from being listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, it is also in the list as Data Deficient by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.

There have been no documented or sighted instances of Bryde's appearance in Bohol seas in the past.

Now the question is what drove them here. Like a carabao grazing for greener pasture or as result of climate change? No one really knows, at least for now. (FREEMAN)