Stranded whale dies off Sultan Kudarat coast
COTABATO CITY – A stranded whale off the coast of Barangay Poral in Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat eventually died on Saturday, according to local authorities.
Curious villagers who first spotted the marine mammal approached the creature to have photo opportunities, with several others even hopping on its back.
Netizen Hazi Masukat posted on his Facebook page a video that captured what the locals did.
Masukat criticized their deed as “a shameful display of human ignorance.”
The whale, believed to be a sperm whale, was discovered at around 8 a.m.
It tried to swim away but its belly touched the sea floor.
Several men, believed to be fishers, also tried to push the whale to no avail.
Kalamansig municipal councilor Randy Andoy Garcia said the whale was estimated to be 54 feet long and weighed about 20 tons.
Kalamansig environment authorities arrived at about 9 a.m.
“The incident shows the need for educational campaign on wildlife conservation,” Masukat said.
The sea creature later died at about 1 p.m. said one of the responders. /gsg
Video by netizen Hazi Masukat
