A SPINNER dolphin was found dead by local fisherfolks early Monday morning, Jan. 27, 2025, in Barangay Zaragosa, Badian, Cebu.
According to Badian Municipal Environmental Officer Manolito Recopelacion, the dolphin was found around 5 a.m., a time when fishermen usually venture out to sea.
“The said dolphin was seen by fishermen in the morning around dawn, more or less 5 o’clock because they were about to depart as they were going fishing,” Recopelacion said in Cebuano through Facebook chat.
The incident was first reported to SunStar by Badian Tourism Officer Earl Endab.
Stranded
According to Recopelacion, the dead marine animal, identified as a spinner dolphin, was found stranded on an island in Barangay Zaragosa.
The spinner dolphin weighed around 18 to 20 kilograms when retrieved.
He said dolphins are a common sighting in their area due to its location covered under Tañon Strait, a body of water located between the islands of Cebu and Negros in the central Philippines.
Tañon Strait is an important marine passage known for its rich biodiversity, making it a popular area for marine life such as dolphins, whales and various fish species.
State of decomposition
Upon inspection, it was determined that the dolphin, already showing signs of decomposition, had been dead for approximately five to eight days.
“Its skin was already peeling off as part of the decomposition process,” Recopelacion said.
He said they await confirmation on whether the dolphin was a juvenile, as the investigation by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 is still ongoing.
He said Badian experienced a similar incident in August and October in 2023 and another one on Nov. 21, 2024 at Lambug Beach.
According to a Facebook post by the Badian Environmental Management Services on Nov. 21, 2024, a spinner dolphin can weigh 80 to 100 kilos more or less and has a length of 230 centimeters (cm) more or less and a width of 60 cm and the faint of 30 cm.
BFAR 7 reaction
SunStar reached out to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) 7 for more information. However, the agency, in a text message, said that “no reports [have been] submitted to us” while confirming that it had responded to Badian.
BFAR spokesman Johann Tejada noted that while BFAR aims to capacitate all local government units (LGUs) to handle marine mammal strandings, “not all LGUs are trained on this.”
SunStar also contacted the DENR 7, but has yet to receive a response as of press time.
The town of Badian is known for Kawasan Falls and canyoneering activities, while its neighboring town of Moalboal is known for its diving spots and island hopping that includes dolphin watching. / CDF