Dead Pygmy sperm whale found at Sipalay seashore

SIPALAY. The dead female Pygmy sperm whale found by residents at the seashore of Barangay 2 in Sipalay City early Wednesday, June 6, 2018. (Bryan Seidel)
SIPALAY. The dead female Pygmy sperm whale found by residents at the seashore of Barangay 2 in Sipalay City early Wednesday, June 6, 2018. (Bryan Seidel)

A DEAD female Pygmy sperm whale was found by residents at the seashore of Barangay 2 in Sipalay City early Wednesday, June 6.

The seven-foot-long and 47-centimeter wide whale weighs 75 to 100 kilograms.

Edsel Toledo, fisheries technician of Sipalay City Agriculture Office, told SunStar Bacolod that they received reports about the dead animal washed ashore near a docking area for pump boats.

Toledo said they validated the reports along with personnel of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Department of Environment and Natural Resources Office, and City Veterinary Office.

The whale has no wounds. No indication that it was mistreated or intentionally killed.

"We opened the animal's stomach to determine the cause of its death. We found a sticky and mud-like substance stocked in its small intestine," he added.

Initially, authorities suspected that the substance is solidified oil taken in by the whale.

"It might be a pollutant," Toledo said, adding the animal most probably has just died as indicated by the fresh blood on its cut.

The whale was then buried at the area. Authorities have yet to determine if it is already an endangered species.

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