Injured dolphin rescued in Pangasinan

The injured rough-toothed dolphin rescued off Bolo Beach in Alaminos City. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

DAGUPAN CITY — An injured rough-toothed dolphin was rescued by residents in Bolo Beach in Alaminos City on Friday, an official of the Hundred Islands National Park (HINP) said on Sunday.

The dolphin, which bore a wound on its back, was first seen by HINP tourist assistants being pushed back to the sea by residents of Barangay Bolo, according to Toots Orfinada, HINP marketing and promotions officer.

Technicians of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources brought the dolphin to its facility at the Karias Island, where it is now being treated.

Orfinada said that the two-meter-long dolphin appeared too weak to swim back to sea.

On July 2, a 1.8-meter long rough-toothed dolphin was also stranded on the same beach and was taken to the BFAR facility for treatment.

According to the Philippine Marine Mammal Stranding Network, rough-toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis) are “frequent stranders.”

Adults grow to a size ranging from 2 meters to 2.7 meters. /ee