CAPIZ — For the first time, a dolphin was seen in the seawater of President Roxas in this province on Jan. 12. Unfortunately, it was already dead.
According to Eunice Posadas, a town resident, the dolphin was found entangled in a fishnet by one of the fishermen.
Edmund Villaoscarez, Agricultural Technologist of the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) of Pres. Roxas, the incident happened somewhere in Pilar Bay.
Upon checking of the fishnet (patuloy), the dolphin was already lifeless.
The fishermen reported the incident to the Bantay Dagat Unit of PNP but they were referred to MAO through Mr. Villaoscarez who in return, reported it to PFO-Capiz.
The dolphin was then brought to Barangay Marita, Pres. Roxas.
This is the first time that the community has seen a dolphin in their area. Based on its morphometric data gathered by MAO, the dolphin was 1.83m in length and weighed around 40 kg.
Meanwhile, according to marine zoologist and wildlife veterinarian Dr. Ari Barcelona, the said dolphin found is a Spinner Dolphin.
The Capiz Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (CaPENRO), on the other hand, emphasized to the public that marine animals, like any other animals in the environment, play a vital role in maintaining balance in the ecosystem.
“We are asking everyone to please leave the animals as they are in their habitat. We are blessed with the rich diversity of living things in the province of Capiz so let us all take care of it as stewards of nature,” said acting CaPENRO Atty. Emilyn Arboleda-Depon.
The CaPENRO head cited Republic Act 9147 otherwise known as the “Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act” which prohibits collecting, hunting, and possessing of wildlife and their by-products and derivatives.
Anyone found guilty of violating the wildlife law will face imprisonment up to a maximum of two years and be fined up to P200,000, if inflicted against endangered species.
