DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 22 May) – The carcass of a sperm whale washed up on the shore of Sitio Sakalig, Barangay Sugal, in Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental on Saturday, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Davao said on Sunday.
In a press release, the DENR-Davao said two fisherfolk reported to the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) the discovery of the remains of the massive whale.
The whale, measuring 60 feet long and nine feet wide, suffered from multiple wounds and was most likely lifeless before reaching the shores.
The agency said its regional executive director, Bagani Fidel A. Evasco directed the PENRO to coordinate with concerned agencies and experts in marine biology for the disposal of the carcass as it poses a potential hazard to the nearby community.
“There is also a need to cordon the area. And the carcass should be disposed of immediately because its smell can be toxic and hazardous to the community,” Evasco said.
It said the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office headed by Harry Camoro will work with Davao Museum and the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office to perform a deboning on the carcass.
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species lists the sperm whale as being “vulnerable’ while the United States Endangered Species Act lists it as “endangered”.
As defined by the IUCN, a species is vulnerable if it possesses “a high risk of extinction in the wild.”
On the other hand, a species is considered endangered if it faces “a very high risk of extinction in the wild.” (Antonio L. Colina IV/MindaNews)
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