A 7.5-foot pygmy sperm whale died after it suffered a six-inch cut in his head in Barangay Punta Engaño, Lapu-Lapu City, last Sunday morning, February 4.
Adelino Padilla, agricultural technologist of Lapu-Lapu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro), said the whale was hit by the propeller of a pump boat and was seen floating near the shore in a resort in Sitio Lupa around 10 a.m.
“Buhi pa pagkakita sa mga taw. Sige pa syag langoy-langoy (The whale was still alive when the people found it near the shore. He was still trying to swim),” said Padilla.
The staff of the resort tried to help the whale by placing it back to the sea, but it later swam back to the shore.
After they were informed, Cenro personnel and barangay officials came to save the whale. But it eventually died.
Padilla said the whale weighed more than 300 kilos and its body was 64 inches in circumference.
The whale was buried in the city's material recovery facility around 9 a.m. Monday, February 5.
Padilla asked those operating pump boats that if they see something floating in the sea, they must slow down or stop to check if it's a whale or other sea animal.
In case of an injured mammal, he said it must be reported immediately to the barangay or Cenro so the animal can still be saved. (FMG/SunStar Cebu)