Visitors encounter hundreds of dolphins, whales in Zamboanga Del Sur

A netizen took to social media to share video clips he took upon encountering hundreds of dolphins and sperm whales during a boat ride in Tukuran, Zamboanga Del Sur.

Before heading back to shore, Joemar Revelo said that the whales were attacked by five of what appeared to be sharks. Joemar assumed that the dolphins and whales worked together upon the sharks' attack.

According to Kuya Kim's report on "24 Oras," Tuesday, dolphins are considered among the smartest animals in the world. They have an advanced communication system, which allows them to communicate with other species.

"Meron silang parang special apparatus na nakadugtong dun sa blowhole nila. Parang 'yun 'yung equivalent 'yung voice box ng tao," Marine Wildlife Watch of the Philippines Executive Director AA Yaptinchay said.

Meanwhile, the shark-like creatures Joemar saw were actually short-finned pilot whales.

"Kung mapapansin niyo, 'yung mga sperm whales, they got into this formation na parang bulaklak. Ang tawag non [ay] Marguerite Formation. This type of behavior [ay] nakikita 'pag parang ina-attack itong mga sperm whale," Yaptinchay said.

He also clarified that pilot whales are not known for eating sperm whales.

"Pero baka na-stress 'yung sperm whales sa dami ng defense reaction nung sperm whale," he said.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has been notified of the sighting and will investigate the incident.

—Carby Rose Basina/MGP, GMA Integrated News