False killer whale rescued

TAYTAY, Palawan — A false killer whale entangled in a nylon rope was rescued by local residents and marine conservation groups in the shallow waters off Barangay Sandoval here.

The Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines (LAMAVE) said the animal was spotted by community members on 10 September in the protected waters of community seaweed farms.

Residents, Sulubaaï Environmental Foundation, Bantay Dagat of the Shark Fin Bay Marine Protected Area Network, LAMAVE and the Philippine Coast Guard worked together to remove the rope, allowing the whale to swim toward deeper waters.

LAMAVE said more than two meters of nylon rope had become wrapped around the animal’s fluke and cut into its skin, causing a deep wound. If left untreated, the injury could have resulted in tail amputation, as documented in at least two Irrawaddy dolphins in nearby Malampaya Sound.

False killer whales are large members of the dolphin family and are highly social animals that typically inhabit deep offshore waters. They can grow up to six meters long and are known for swimming rapidly, occasionally leaping and traveling considerable distances.

The species is classified as “Near Threatened” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List. In the Philippines, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources classifies it as endangered, with catching, selling, purchasing, possessing, transporting and exporting the species prohibited.

LAMAVE said Palawan is home to at least 20 marine mammal species, more than two-thirds of those recorded in the country.

The group stressed that coastal communities, particularly seaweed farmers, are often the first to encounter distressed marine wildlife. Their awareness and prompt reporting are therefore critical to marine conservation efforts.

“The successful disentangling effort highlights the importance of community awareness and participation in managing and protecting local marine resources,” LAMAVE said.