Dead whale found in Romblon waters

A two-meter-long whale weighing 120 kilos washed ashore at Sitio Atabay in Ferrol, Romblon.

According to Kuya Kim’s report on "24 Oras," Thursday, the animal was already dead when residents found it.

"Pagdating namin ininspeksyon namin. Patay na 'yung whale," said agricultural extension officer Mark Jasyon Agoilo.

"Pinagtulungan po ng mangingisda namin na dalhin doon sa tabi upang baon na roon para hindi na magdulot ng ano pa mang masangsang na amoy sa kanilang lugar."

Dr. Jo Marie Acebes, the founder of Balyena.org, said that the whale could be a dwarf sperm whale or a pygmy sperm whale.

"'Yung shape ng kaniyang ulo, may pagka-squarish, 'yung kanyang bibig ay underslung 'yung lower jaw. Meron siyang tinatawag na false gill. Base sa itsura nya, dwarf sperm whale or pygmy sperm whale. Dalawang klase ng balyena na ito ay magkamukhang-magkamukha kasi so mahirap silang mapagkaiba," she said.

"Nakikita sila sa medyo malalim na lugar o ‘yung tinatawag na continental shelf pero halos buong mundo merong ganito."

Residents initially thought it was a beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas), but Kuya Kim said it is commonly found in the cold waters of the arctic and sub-arctic regions in the northern hemisphere.

In countries like the Philippines, where the climate is typically hot, there is a low chance for beluga whales to survive as they are not used to the temperature.

—Carby Basina/MGP, GMA Integrated News