Injured whale rescued, treated in Sarangani province

RESCUED. Environment personnel rescued a female Pygmy sperm whale on Monday, October 25, after fishermen found it stranded along the coast of Barangay Mabay, Maitum town in Sarangani Province. (Photo courtesy of DENR-12)

KORONADAL CITY — An injured female pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps) is currently being treated in a facility in Sarangani after it was rescued on Monday, October 25, on the province’s coast.

Lawyer Felix S. Alicer, regional executive director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Region 12 (DENR-12), said the two-meter mammal was weak and wounded when found by fishermen along the coast of Barangay Mabay, Maitum town.

“Our people in the area have been educated and trained to help and not to harm endangered species,” Alicer said.

Forester Abdul D. Cariga, community environment and natural resources officer in Kiamba town, said personnel from the Maitum municipal environment office, representatives from Environmental Conservation and Protection Center, and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources immediately responded to save the stranded marine mammal.

Through a phone call, Dr. Roy Mejorada, Sarangani provincial veterinarian, instructed the marine rescuers how to handle and provide medical aid to the whale.

Cariga said they occasionally rescue marine mammals like whales, dolphins, and marine turtles in Sarangani Bay, usually in close coordination with personnel from local environmental offices and non-government groups.

Alicer said the rescued whale is still under observation and will be released back to the wild once it recovers and regains strength.