By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – An Irrawaddy dolphin was killed in a suspected shark attack in Negros Occidental over the weekend.
Lumba project, a center for research and engagement on critically endangered Irrawaddy dolphins found in Bago and Pulupandan, posted the tragic fate of the dolphin on Facebook last Tuesday.
“We are disheartened to announce that one of our identified Irrawaddy dolphins, N-08 (also known as “Sheared with cut” or “Fuji” by researchers) died last Sunday, March 14,” the group said.
The information that reached the group was that fishermen from Barangay Taloc, Bago City, reportedly witnessed the dolphin being attacked by an alleged large shark, while they were returning from a fishing trip in Guimaras Strait.
The fishermen recovered the weak and wounded dolphin from the surface in an attempt to rescue the mammal, but the dolphin later died.
A large chunk of flesh and muscle was torn away from the dorsal thoracic region of the dolphin, which is believed to have caused its death.
Rakings also surrounded the chunked-out portion, as well as on the pectoral fins of dolphin, while large triangular marks were found on the exposed muscles, suggestive of a shark attack, the group said.
The group thanked the people, who helped respond on the stranding, as well as the succeeding necropsy.
Irrawaddy dolphins in Guimaras Strait are the most endangered mammals in Western Visayas with their population at dangerously low levels, according to the group.
