LEGAZPI CITY, Aug 5 (PIA) – A Risso’s dolphin (grampus griseus) that beached on the shores of Del Gallego town in Camarines Sur province last Saturday has died, and initial examination suggested it may have died from hunger, dehydration and infection.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) here said the Risso’s dolphin, one of the larger members of the dolphin family, was 2.6 meters long and weighed more than 250 kilograms.
“The animal might not have eaten for the past days and might have suffered from hunger and dehydration,” said Nonie Enolva, chief of BFAR’s marine fisheries resources management section.
Enolva also noticed “inflamed lymph nodes near (the dolphin’s) ear area,” indicating it had an infection.
Moreover, Enolva observed signs that the dolphin was a lactating mother.
“Its mammary glands were still producing milk, an indication that the dolphin is lactating,” he said.
BFAR veterinarian Evelyn Saberon is reportedly undertaking necropsy analysis of samples taken from the dolphin’s carcass.
The dolphin was buried at the fish cemetery in this city yesterday morning. Its bones will be exhumed a few months later for display at the Sta. Rita Resort in Del Gallego town in Camarines Sur province where it first beached.
After it was released back to the sea, the dolphin got stranded on the shores of Tagkawayan town in Quezon province.
On Saturday, it was found dying on the beach of Sta. Rita Resort.
A Risso’s calf was also beached on the shore of Barangay Aldavoc in Tagkawayan town, Quezon province but experts were unsure if it was the offspring of the dead dolphin.
According to Enolva, Risso’s dolphins are hardly seen close to the shore because they usually feed in deeper offshore waters.
According to marine scientists, marine animals get stranded when they flee fisherfolk who hunt them or when they try to flee bad weather. These animals also get stranded when they get sick as a result of polluted environment. (EAD/SAA/PIA5/Albay/BFAR5)