Pilot whale found dead in Mati City, Philippines

By Ben O. Tesiorna

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

MATI CITY — A half-a-ton dead pilot whale was found on the shore of Barangay Tamisan here last week.

A pilot whale, like a killer whale, is a member of the dolphin family.

The dead pilot whale was seen in the waters off Sitio Taganilao on September 21, with an injured tail. Fishermen in the area left it alone thinking it was not in danger and it would just swim away.

But the 10-foot long pilot whale was found dead already a day after with wounds suspected to be caused by a sharp fisherman’s spear.

Nathaniel Quiñones, resident of Mati, said barangay officials led by village councilor Giovanni Lazaro immediately informed the authorities about the dead whale.

Representatives from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) took some samples and decided to bury the whale in the village.

The provincial tourism office also requested for the whale’s skeleton to be donated to the museum the province is planning to construct.

Quiñones said BFAR and the police did not pursue an investigation to determine the real cause of the dolphin’s death and pursue the culprits.

He said only huge fishing vessels are known to be carrying spears that could have injured the pilot whale.

Pilot whales are very social, and are most often found in groups of 20 to 90.

Residents in the area claimed that there are about 100 pilot whales that frequent the Pujada Bay waters in Mati City. The Pujada Bay was declared as a protected seascape by the National Government since 1994.

Another area of interest for environmental conservationists is Mayo Bay, Mati City, where dolphins, dugongs, sea turtles and whales are also sighted.

sunstar.com.ph

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