BIEN-UNIDO. – A huge sea turtle and a dolphin were saved and set free in different incidents of stranding in this town and nearby municipality of Talibon, Bohol, reports said.  The sea turtle believed to be traveling all the way from Malaysia was trapped by a fish net last week of April in the island of barangay Maomaoan, off this town, according to a report received by Bohol Environment Management Office (BEMO). The report said the turtle could have ended into gastronomic delicacy if not of the vigilance of the islanders.  The report said that barangay chair Ricardo Soriso of said island barangay recovered from an unnamed fisherman the turtle, measuring 95 centimeters in width, 139 in length and weighs 175 kilos.  The sea turtle’s “right wing band” was marked “Return to Turtle Island Park, Box 768 Sandacan, Sabah, Malaysia, M. Y. (S) 68877” after it was saved with the help of the team of P03 Anecito Auntentico (team leader), P02 Glen Pahamutang, Felix Tabigue, Atan de los Reyes and Francisco Autentico, the report said.

Municipal Veterinarian Dr. Mona Liza Cruda, DVM of Talibon town told this writer, quoting a report that two dolphins were spotted frolicking at Kanturada, Cataban, Talibon near the barangay’s sanctuary early morning of May 3 by fisherman Abundio  Valmoria Villasica while he was on his daily routine to sea. The dolphins were identified as “bottlenose,” locally known as “lumba-lumba,” one of them was female measured 1,56 meters long and weighs between 60-70 kilos.  “Afraid that other fishermen might hurt the dolphins, he tried to catch the dolphins. Unfortunately, he only caught one dolphin. He immediately asked for help to other fishermen, Crisostomo Abapo, Junior Autentico, Bedlin Abapo and Joniel Abapo to keep the dolphin at sea.  They reported the incident to Brgy. Kagawad Alexander Cabando,” Cruda said.  A barangay kagawad of Cataban immediately called Geoffrey Villamil of Coastal Resource Mamanegment-Talibon and the Coastal Law Enforcement Council of District II (CLEC-II). The two agencies immediately responded to the call bringing along the Talibon Fishwardens in rescuing the dolphins while calling for the assistance of Bohol Rescue Unit for Marine Mammals (BRUMM) and Mr. Jeremiah Jansalin, MPA and CRM Specialist at PATH Foundation Philippines, Inc.  After the documentation, the dolphin was lifted and placed to the pumpboat of LGU-Talibon for transportation.  The said dolphin was bathed with sea water during its transport to a safe place. At around 9:45 in the morning, the dolphin was released at sea off Nocnocan Island, Talibon, Bohol.  However, the other dolphin was not seen again. Examination showed no lacerations or stab wounds, she said. It was not immediately known what was the cause of the stranding. But BEMO believes their presence may indicate marine protected areas (MPA) may be robust for their feeding. (RVO)