MORONG, Bataan – Various organizations from this province have collaborated to save a wounded Risso’s Dolphin that swam aground Playa La Caleta (PLC) resort here, Thursday morning.
In a report submitted by Jose Mari Garcia, PIA Bataan chief, to the Bataan press, DENR-Bataan Wildlife Division chief Mila Ramirez reported a 6-foot long, adult, male dolphin suffered wounds in the tail caused by fishing hook and also in the body which were initially seen as shark bites.
The dolphin was later taken to Ocean Adventure in Subic Bay Freeport Zone for treatment.
According to the resort’s management, their guests first saw the dolphin at 6 a.m. and a lifeguard tried to bring it back to the sea, but the mammal returned to the shore seemingly tired.
Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus) is the only species of dolphin in the genus Grampus. It is commonly known as the Monk dolphin among Taiwanese fishermen.
Some of the closest related species to these dolphins include: pilot whales (Globicephala spp.), pygmy killer whales (Feresa attenuata), melon-headed whales (Peponocephala electra), and false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens).