Dolphin, turtles found dead in Bohol

CEBU, Philippines - Strandings of marine mammals in Bohol’s shorelines have become commonplace as another dolphin and a turtle were found dead in separate occasions in the towns of Garcia-Hernandez and Duero.

A beak dolphin was beached and found floating dead, causing alarm to the coastal residents of Barangay Ulbujan in Garcia-Hernandez, said a source. The residents and rescuers however had no other options but to bury immediately after documentation.

The dead dolphin, about 14 feet long, was bloodied all over with multiple wounds, including a big one believed to be hit by a harpoon, said the source.

Kristina Pahang, coordinator on information, education and communication campaign of the Large Marine Vertebrates (LAMAVE) Project-Philippines, and member of the Bohol Rescue Unit for Marine Mammals (BRUMM) sent a notice to inform the concerned people.

Just last week, her e-mail states: “Calling everyone’s attention and help especially those who are in Panglao, Balicasag Island, and nearby areas to be alert. A dolphin was seen floating off the waters of Panglao earlier this morning after getting ran over by a boat (fishing boat as believed by those who saw the incident).”

“ This incident was seen from a distance by guests on a boat going to Balicasag for a dive. The dive boat went near the dolphin (which was observed to be floating most of the time) to check on it while the boat which ran over on the dolphin was already moving fast away from the area. One fisherman on a banca who went close to check on the dolphin, too, confirmed that it was ran over by another banca. The species was not confirmed but according to the guest we have contacted, its length is equivalent to 5’2”, has a distinct melon, with snout but not as long as of spinner dolphins, and the same type/kind that will bow ride,” she said. .

Pahang went on: “The dolphin was seen being accompanied by a bigger dolphin of the same species. The guest did not see any cut on the dolphin and could still blow, but he noticed it was floating bit on its side, would sometimes sink then up again. The dive boat couldn’t stay any longer in the area and not sure anymore if the dolphin is still there.”

Dominic Clarke, a Physalus member, sent another e-mail: “Within a mere 48 hours of each other, two separate turtles of different species’ became stranded in Duero and Jagna, respectively.” He said a leatherback turtle was washed ashore in Duero and “was sadly dead.” It is being kept by Physalus, a research group, for necropsy “to shed light on the possible cause of death,” he said.

Another was the hawksbill turtle saved by an unidentified person who spotted it struggling in the mud of Barangay Alejawan of Duero. “After a quick assessment that she appeared healthy and active, she was covered with a moist blanket to keep her comfortable and quickly returned to the beach on which she had been found. The speed with which she then swam away from the immediate area was very encouraging and Physalus is hopeful that she we will make a full recovery from her ordeal. It is possible she was attempting to lay her eggs when she was found, as hawksbill females often travel surprisingly far up the beach to dig their nests,” Clark said.

Meanwhile, Pahang said Physalus is inviting interested to join with the local community in the release of four critically endangered Hawksbill sea turtles on May 13 at Talisay Beach in Brgy. Bacong, Anda, Bohol. “These animals are commonly found in the Bohol Sea and nest on the clear, sandy beach of Anda,” she said. — (FREEMAN)