A team from the Institute of Marine Fisheries and Oceanology, College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences (CFOS-IMFO), UP Visayas responded to a stranded bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops sp.) at Sitio Pandan, Brgy. Nabitasan, Leganes, Iloilo on April 13, 2024.
Led by its director Asst. Prof. Dr. Cristy S. Acabado, the IMFO Quick Response Team joined and worked with other stakeholders to help and return the dolphin into the ocean.
The female dolphin weighing around 100kg and measuring 73 inches long and 13 inches wide, was likely trapped during low tide and could not find its way to deeper water.
Upon assessment, the team found that the animal was in distress with fast heart rate and half closed eyelids. The animal also sustained scratches and minor wounds with no major visible trauma.
The dolphin was assisted using the boat of Leganes Bantay Dagat and successfully got to the deeper water.
Other concerned stakeholders involved in the response operation were the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Municipal Environment and Natural Resources office, Municipal Agriculture Office, all of the Leganes local government unit; Philippine Coastguard Auxiliary, Philippine National Police Maritime Group, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region VI, and the local community of Brgy. Nabitasan, Leganes.
The IMFO Quick Response Team is composed of all IMFO faculty members, REPS and staff geared towards rescue and post-mortem operations related to beaching and stranding of marine wildlife.
Stranding occurs when marine animals like dolphins, whales, or sea turtles are found on the beach floating on the water or washed ashore injured, dead or alive, and could not return to the water. (With sources from IMFO)
