By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – A bottlenose dolphin was found dead near the Carbin Reef in Sagay Marine Reserve, Sagay City, Negros Occidental yesterday.
According to Jose Roberto Togle, head of the Resource Management Section of Sagay City Environment and Natural Resources (SCENRO), a fisherman found the common bottlenose dolphin around 5:40 a.m.
The dolphin was an adult male and about 1.92 meters in length, weighing 90 kilograms.
It has scratch marks on its left eye and nape, while soft tissue was also seen at the back of the dolphin’s head.
SCENRO has yet to determine the dolphin’s cause of death. But, based on initial findings, the mammal might have been hit by a hard object on its blow hole.
The dolphin was turned over to the Bantay Dagat Volunteers and to SCENRO.
Togle advised the fishermen to immediately release dolphins that might be trapped in their fishing nets, as they play a very important role in the marine ecosystem.
