STRANDINGS of marine mammals in Bohol’s shorelines have become a storied one as another dolphin and a turtle were found dead in separate occasions in the municipalities of Garcia-Hernandez and Duero. A beak dolphin was beached and found dead alarming the coastal residents of Barangay Ulbujan, Garcia-Hernandez. But residents and rescuers have no other option but to bury immediately after documentation. The dolphin was about 14 feet long with multiple wounds and bloodied all over its body. A big wound believed to be hit by a harpoon was also inflicted in the sea mammal. Just last week, a notice e-mailed to this writer “calling everyone’s attention and help especially those who are in Panglao, Balicasag Island, and nearby areas to be on alert. A dolphin was seen floating off the waters of Panglao earlier this morning after getting ran over by a boat”. Kristina A. Pahang , i nformation, education, and communication campaign coordinator of the Large Marine Vertebrates (LAMAVE) Project-Philippines and m ember of the Bohol Rescue Unit for Marine Mammals (BRUMM) sent t he notice to inform the concerned people.

She said that earlier “at around 7:20am, a dolphin got ran over by a boat (believed to be a fishing boat) off the waters of Panglao (the area where usual dolphin watching is done). 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 specie was not confirmed but according to the guest 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 in her e-mail.

“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,” she added based on her information she got. Another e-mail received by this writer said “within a mere 48 hours of each other, two separate turtles of different species' became stranded in Duero and Jagna,” said Dominic Clarke, a Physalus member. Clarke said that a leatherback turtle species 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.” “Leatherbacks are named for the thick, tough skin on their backs where all other species have a hard shell and are the largest species of turtle in the world, sometimes growing as big as a small car.

They are capable of migrating distances of up to 20,000km and will swim to depths of 1000m or more in search of jellyfish, their favourite food.  This was only the second recorded stranding of a turtle of this species in Bohol, making it all the more important that we learn about their presence here. Pacific leatherbacks are listed as critically endangered around the world,” he explained. Another is the hawksbill turtle saved by an unidentified person who spotted it struggling in the mud in barangay Alejawan in 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 that Physalus is inviting those interested to join with the local community in the release of 4 critically endangered hawksbill sea turtles on May 13th at Talisay Beach in barangay Bacong in Anda town. These amazing animals are commonly found in the Bohol Sea and nest on the clear, sandy beach of Anda, she said. “The story of these hawksbill turtles started last May when a nest of over 100 eggs hatched on the beach.   The community was concerned about the welfare of these animals and thought that ‘head-starting’ these animals may help.  They decided to keep them in captivity in a tank at Talisay beach. Over the past year, some were released and others did not survive. Only 4 individuals now remain.  While the actions of the community were well-meaning, the practice of keeping turtle hatchlings has not been proven to help the survival of these animals and may actually be harmful. After learning about sea turtle biology and conservation, the community of Anda has decided to cease the practice of keeping turtle hatchlings. They will release the remaining 4 hatchlings offshore after a period of rehabilitation,” she said. (RVO)