Wounded whale rescued off Lubang Island

A stranded baby whale is being measured by local authorities on Lubang Island. Photo by Lubang Tourism Office

MANILA, Philippines—A wounded whale was rescued twice Wednesday by local residents of Lubang Island in Occidental Mindoro.

Gina Julaton, tourism operations officer of Lubang Island, told INQUIRER.net that the whale was found by local fishery officers and bantay dagat (sea patrol) marooned along the coastline of Barangay Likas ng Silangan, Poblacion at 6 a.m.

Julaton said that she was informed by the bantay dagat members about the beached marine mammal, which conservation experts identified as a female pilot whale.
Julaon said she read instructions from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Wildlife Rescue on what to do when whales are stranded.

“Dapat doon siya sa part ng tubig na hindi maalon para hindi siya ma-stress at makapagpahinga siya bago siya ma-release,” Julaton told INQUIRER.net in a telephone interview.

Earlier, the whale—measuring 10 feet long and 3.5 feet wide—was freed by local residents and fisherfolk at 8 a.m.
At 10 a.m., Julaton said they received another report from concerned citizens that a whale was also seen along the coast of Barangay Vigo.

“Naisip naming baka iyon din iyong na-rescue naming noong umaga (We thought probably it’s the same (whale) that we released this morning),” Julaton said, adding that their assumption was confirmed when they arrived at the village.

As of this posting, officials from the Department of Agriculture, together with a veterinarian, arrived to help in the rescue of the distressed whale, Julaton said, adding that it was being treated for wounds.

Photos showed that the whale has wounds in its snout.

Julaton said that authorities might release the whale while sea water is still high Wednesday.

She noted that this is not the first time a whale was marooned on their island, although she said the waters around Lubang Island are home to various species of whales and dolphins.

Originally posted at 06:52 pm | Wednesday, March 14,  2012