A male spinner dolphin was found dead in the shores of barangay Alo, Oslob town, south Cebu last Sunday.
The sea mammal, which measured about five meters, purportedly died due to an illness, said Oslob Mayor Ronald Guarin.
Spinner dolphins “(Stenella longirostris) are small dolphins found in tropical waters around the world. It is famous for its acrobatic displays in which it spins as it leaps through the air.
Only authorities touched the dead dolphin “as the people here are educated on proper handling of these sea animals,” added Guarin.
He said the dead dolphin was buried after experts examined.
Dr. Alessandro Ponzo, head of the non-governmental organization Physalus which conducted an analysis on the dead dolphin, saw no traces of human inflicted injury on the dolphin.
“The stomach was empty and it was very skinny. Probably, it was a disease,” Ponzo told reporters after a closed-door meeting with Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia at the Capitol yesterday afternoon.
He said they have to conduct more analysis to be able to assess the cause of the dolphin’s death.
He said the incident is no cause for alarm for whalesharks which is driving tourism in the town. / Ador Vincent Mayol, Reporter