MARIVELES, Bataan- A wounded female baby dolphin of the melon-headed whale species was stranded Tuesday morning at the Blue House beach in Sisiman, fishing village in Mariveles, Bataan.
Dr. Reynaldo Venturina, provincial veterinarian, cleaned the wounds and administered vitamin and anti-biotics to the 4 – 6 month-old dolphin, weighing about 20 – 30 kilos.
“May apat na sugat na maaaring ang dahilan ay tama ng sea vessel o nasugat sa bato. Mababaw lang naman kaya katulad ng ilang dating sugat, maghihilom din ang mga ito. Malakas naman kaya pinakawalan na natin,” the veterinarian said.
When freed, the dolphin quickly swam and got lost towards the direction of nearby Corregidor Island.
“Dahil bata pa naman ito, tiyak hahanapin ng inang dolphin,” Venturina said.
Mario Taclan, deputy chief of barangay Tanod in Alas-Asin, said they saw the dolphin swimming back and forth in the shallow water near the beach. “Hinuli namin at ng makitang may mga sugat, tumawag kami agad ng beterinario.”
“Para sa aming mga mangingisda, gusto naming mabigyan ng proteksiyon ang mga dolphin. Hindi ito dapat hulihin o katayin sapagka’t may parusa ito sa batas,” said Rogelio
Commendador, chair of the municipal fisheries and aquatic resources council in Mariveles.
Alas-Asin village head Maximo Barcena said they called Dr. Venturina so that the dolphin will be given immediate attention. He said that it was the first time a dolphin got stranded in Sisiman.
Venturina said the baby dolphin was the same as those hordes of melon-headed whale that were stranded in Pilar, Bataan on February 10, 2009.
