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Aquatic Mammals 2010, 36(3), 219-233, DOI 10.1578/AM.36.3.2010.219
The Philippine Marine Mammal Strandings from
1998 to 2009: Animals in the Philippines in Peril?
Lemnuel V. Aragones,
1, 2, 3
Mary Anne A. Roque,
1, 3
Mariel B. Flores,
2
Richard P. Encomienda,
2
Gail E. Laule,
2
Bianca G. Espinos,
2
Francis E. Maniago,
2
Gloria C. Diaz,
4
Edwyn B. Alesna,
4
and Robert C. Braun
2
1
Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology, University of the Philippines, Diliman,
Quezon City, Philippines 1101; E-mail: lemdva2001@yahoo.com
2
Ocean Adventure, Camayan Wharf, West Ilanin Forest Area, Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Philippines 2222
3
Natural Sciences Research Institute, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines 1101
4
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, PCA Building, Quezon Circle, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines 1101
Abstract
A well-maintained marine mammal stranding data-
base can be an invaluable tool in understanding
not only strandings but also changes in the marine
environment. This study aimed to examine the fol-
lowing aspects of marine mammal strandings in the
Philippines: species composition, temporal (i.e.,
frequency of stranding per year and seasonality)
and spatial (i.e., frequency of stranding per region
and province) variation, proportions of alive or dead
specimens, and stranding hotspots. In 2008, a sys-
tematic collection of data on strandings, including
out-of-habitat incidents, resulted in an initial 12-year
database—from 1998 to 2009. A total of 178 strand-
ing events were recorded: 163 single, 10 mass, and
5 out-of-habitat strandings, with an average of 15
observed stranding events annually. Twenty-three
of the 28 confirmed species of marine mammals in
the Philippines were recorded to strand, including
first-recorded specimens for the Indo-Pacific bot-
tlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus), pygmy sperm
whale (Kogia breviceps), and Longman’s beaked
whale (Indopacetus pacificus). The top five most
frequent species to strand included spinner dol-
phin (Stenella longirostris) (n = 26), short-finned
pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus) (n =
14), melon-headed whale (Peponocephala electra)
(n = 13), Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus) (n =
11), and common bottlenose dolphin (T. truncatus)
(n = 10). Dugongs (Dugong dugon) stranded seven
times since 2001. Strandings occurred through-
out the year with frequency significantly peaking
during the northeast (NE) monsoon (November
to March) season. Overall, Regions III (Central
Luzon) and VII (Central Visayas) had the highest
number of strandings (both n = 27) followed by
Regions I (Ilocos) (n = 22) and V (Bicol) (n = 18).
The following provinces or local government units
were considered hotspots based on high number
of strandings observed at each area: Zambales,
Cagayan, Zamboanga City, Negros Oriental, Bohol,
Pangasinan, and Bataan. Sixty-five percent of all
documented stranding events involved live (n =
116) animals. This high percentage might be linked
to dynamite fishing (causing acoustic trauma), fish-
eries interactions, or biotoxins from harmful algal
blooms coupled to their foodweb. These strandings
in general validate the diverse marine mammal
assemblage in the Philippines and reveal the vari-
ous environmental threats with which they deal.
Key Words: marine mammals, stranding, strand-
ing database, stranding network, dolphins, whales,
dugongs, Philippines
Introduction
A marine mammal stranding is an event in which
an individual or group of marine mammals
washes ashore after death or is found on the beach
or shore in a helpless situation unable to return to
the water on its own ability (Geraci & Lounsbury,
2005). A stranding is categorized either as dead or
alive, depending on the state of the animal when
it was initially observed, and as single or mass. A
mother/calf pair that strand together is considered
a single stranding, while a mass stranding per-
tains to a simultaneous stranding of two or more
animals. Marine mammals are said to be out-of-
habitat when these animals, usually pelagic spe-
cies (e.g., pilot whales, common dolphins), are
found close to shallow waters and likely at risk
of becoming stranded (National Oceanographic
and Atmospheric Administration/National Marine
Fisheries Service [NOAA/NMFS], 2009). Since
these species are often in a large group, others
(Brownell et al., 2009) refer to out-of-habitat as
near mass stranding.
220
Aragones et al.
A database detailing the records of marine
mammal strandings is a valuable resource for
information regarding species occurrence, distri-
bution, potential abundance, and ocean and human
health since marine mammals are considered
sentinel species (Bossart, 2009). Furthermore, a
decomposing carcass on a beach is still consid-
ered important in certain cases because it can yield
valuable information regarding an individual’s life
history, genetics, predators, contaminants, and
feeding ecology. Live strandings of a rare species
can inform us about that species physiology and
behavior. Every stranding event presents a sci-
entific opportunity to add knowledge and under-
standing regarding a certain aspect of a species
(Perrin & Geraci, 2002).
Strandings occur worldwide. Although global
statistics of these events are lacking, several coun-
tries have established formal stranding response
programs and well-established national databases
(e.g., United States, Australia, United Kingdom,
and Canada). In the United States, a National
Stranding Alert Network for six regional centers
with a central database file was established after
passage of the Marine Mammal Protection Act in
1972, which led to the establishment of the Marine
Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program
(MMHSRP). In Southeast Asia, Vietnam and
Thailand have established their respective national
stranding programs (Perrin & Geraci, 2002). The
oldest stranding program, although not scientifi-
cally based (i.e., not systematically catalogued),
could be in Vietnam where cetacean specimens
that washed ashore were collected and preserved
in the Buddhist temples for centuries (Smith et al.,
1997). In general, however, a national stranding
response program and a stranding database are
often nonexistent in many developing countries,
which often harbor an unknown assemblage of
marine mammal populations.
In the Philippines, it is not surprising to
encounter stranded marine mammals because the
country represents an archipelago of more than
7,100 islands with a total coastline of 36,289 km
(Fajardo, 2001; The Official Government Portal of
the Republic of the Philippines, 2010). Aragones
(2008) reported that 27 species of marine mam-
mals (i.e., 26 cetaceans and one sirenian) were
recorded in Philippine waters, and several
accounts indicated that they strand in various parts
of the country. However, most reporting of marine
mammal strandings in the Philippines has been
sporadic and opportunistic. As such, the informa-
tion regarding these events has not been intention-
ally or systematically collected nationwide.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
(BFAR) of the Department of Agriculture has
mandate over marine mammals in the Philippines,
except for the dugong, which is under the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR). In October 2005, BFAR, in collabora-
tion with Ocean Adventure (OA), a marine park
located in Subic Bay, established the Philippine
Marine Mammal Stranding Network (PMMSN)
(Aragones et al., 2008).
The main purpose of this study is to examine
the various aspects of marine mammal strandings
from the Philippines. Investigation of the data
that were collected was aimed mainly at the fol-
lowing questions: (1) species composition of the
marine mammals that stranded, (2) temporal vari-
ation (i.e., seasonality), (3) spatial variation (i.e.,
frequency of stranding per year and by region),
(4) proportions of alive or dead specimens, and
(5) potentially identified stranding hotspots. A
stranding hotspot is an area of concern as strand-
ings in this place are often unusually higher than
in other regions (after Bradshaw et al., 2006) and/
or involve endangered or rare species. This infor-
mation could be vital to the identification of loca-
tions for marine mammal rescue centers that might
be established in strategic stranding hotspot areas.
Also, such details could be valuable information
to a conservation plan for the marine mammals in
the Philippines.
This paper highlights some important results
from collation of the details surrounding docu-
mented strandings of marine mammals in the
Philippines from 1998 to 2009. A comprehensive
and systematic stranding database could shed
light on many aspects of marine mammal science
and contribute to information for monitoring the
changes in our marine environment.
Materials and Methods
All available data on marine mammal strandings,
including out-of-habitat events, was collated from
government offices (BFAR, DENR) and selected
local government (LGUs) offices; from nongov-
ernment offices (OA and its nonprofit arm, Wildlife
In Need [WIN]); from the media in the form of
newspaper or online reports (particularly those
in archives); and from the Museum of Natural
History at the University of the Philippines, Los
Baños. Also, data records from actual strandings
that the authors responded to or assisted with were
included in this paper.
Collection of data from BFAR was conducted
primarily by visiting 12 of the 17 regional offices
nationwide (Appendix 1). The Philippines, due
to its archipelagic nature, is divided into 17
regions for administrative purposes. The 17th is
its Central Office (in the National Capital Region
[NCR], Figure 1). The two other regional offices
sent a compilation of their incident reports. The
221
Philippine Marine Mammal Strandings 1998-2009
stranding data from Region III were collected
mainly by OA and WIN. Since OA and WIN are
located in Region III and have responded to most
stranding events in that region, they were the main
data source for this region. Most of the strandings
that occurred from 2006 to 2009 were directly
reported during the actual stranding events by var-
ious personnel from regional offices and LGUs.
A standard stranding report form for the
PMMSN was completed for each stranding or
out-of-habitat incident (see Appendix 2; after
Aragones & Laule, 2008). The main variables
gathered included, but were not limited to, spe-
cies identification, location, date and time, age
class (calf, subadult, and adult), alive or dead,
rehabilitated or immediately released, or restrand-
ing. A stranded marine mammal is considered for
rehabilitation when it is brought to a facility for
medical attention. Often an animal is stabilized—
that is, it is given supportive care to prevent fur-
ther injury and kept in an upright position protect-
ing the blowhole from water and debris (Geraci &
Lounsbury, 2005). This is performed in the area
where it stranded before it is considered for release
(usually after at least a couple of hours). Other
relevant information, including possible cause
of stranding (e.g., signs of fisheries interaction),
manner of carcass disposal, morphometrics, if tis-
sues or bones were collected and preserved, and if
a necropsy was performed, was also collated.
Very limited data were collected from years
prior to 1998. The regularity of collection of yearly
stranding records began only in 1998. Thus, it was
decided to limit the presented analyses to datasets
Fig
ure 1. The 17 Regions of the Philippines (see Appendix 1 for list of
corresponding names of various regions)
Figure 1. The 17 regions of the Philippines (see Appendix 1 for list of corresponding names of various regions)
222
Aragones et al.
from 1998 to 2009. Stranding events reported
between these years were investigated for dif-
ferences in stranding frequency by year, region,
season, species, sex, age class, dead or alive, and
rehabilitation success.
An ANOVA was used to examine potential sig-
nificant differences in the frequency of stranding
events between seasons across the years. The sea-
sonal scheme was based on the prevailing winds
at certain months of the years: northeast (NE)
monsoon – from November to March, southwest
(SW) monsoon – from June to September, lull
(or transition) period before SW monsoon – from
April to May, and lull period before NE monsoon
in October (Wang, 2006).
Results
A total of 178 stranding events were recorded from
1998 to 2009, which were comprised of 163 single
and 10 mass stranding events, and five out-of-
habitat incidents (Table 1). The annual frequency
of strandings ranged from two (in 1999 and 2000)
to 48 (in 2009) with an average of 15 events per
year (Figure 2). A total of 222 individuals were
involved in all documented strandings. Single
stranding events involved 163 individuals, includ-
ing three events of mother/calf pairs, while 34 indi-
viduals represented the 10 mass stranding events.
An estimated 370 individuals were involved in the
five out-of-habitat events (including 350 individu-
als for two out-of-habitat events of melon-headed
whales [Peponecephala electra]). Seven species
were observed to mass strand, with three species
mass stranding more than once (Table 1). The
oldest recorded stranding was from 1967, where 12
sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) stranded
at Cadiz City, Negros Occidental.
Species Composition and Species Which Strand
Most Frequently
Twenty-three of the 28 confirmed species of
marine mammals found in Philippine waters
(Aragones, 2008; Aragones et al., unpub. data)
were recorded to strand, including first-recorded
specimens for Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin
Table 1. Frequency of stranding events and total number of individuals per species
Stranding/out-of-habitat frequency (no. of individuals) Total stranding/out-of-
habitat frequency (no. of
individuals**)Species Single Mass Out-of-habitat
1
Stenella longirostris
26 26 (26)
2
Stenella attenuata
5 1 (3) 6 (8)
3
Stenella coeruloealba
2 1 (2) 3 (4)
4
Lagenodelphis hosei
8 8 (8)
5
Tursiops aduncus
7 7 (7)
6
Tursiops truncatus
7 2 (5) 1 (6) 10 (18)
7
Steno bredanensis
7 7 (7)
8
Grampus griseus
9 2 (4) 11 (13)
9
Orcaella brevirostris
1 1 (1)
10
Peponocephala electra
10 1 (3) 2 (350) 13 (13)
11
Globicephala macrorhynchus
14* 14 (15)
12
Pseudorca crassidens
2 2 (2)
13
Feresa attenuata
5 2 (14) 7 (19)
14
Kogia sima
8* 8 (9)
15
Kogia breviceps
2 2 (2)
16
Physeter macrocephalus
6 1 (5) 7 (11)
17
Mesoplodon densirostris
2 2 (2)
18
Indopacetus pacificus
1 1 (1)
19
Megaptera novaeangliae
3 3 (3)
20
Balaenoptera edeni
4 4 (4)
21
Balaenoptera omurai
2 2 (2)
22
Balaenoptera spp.
1 1 (1)
23
Dugong dugon
7 7 (7)
Unknown 24* 2 (14*) 26 (39)
Total 163 (166) 10 (36) 5 (370) 178 (222)
*Involved a mother/calf pair
**Excluding out-of-habitat
223
Philippine Marine Mammal Strandings 1998-2009
(Tursiops aduncus), pygmy sperm whale (Kogia
breviceps) (Aragones et al., unpub. data), and the
Longman’s beaked whale (Indopacetus pacificus)
(Acebes et al., 2005). From these 23 species, 18
were odontocetes, four were mysticetes, and one
sirenian—the dugong (Dugong dugon). The hump-
back (Megaptera novaeangliae) and the Omura’s
(Balaenoptera omurai) were some of the large
species of whales (mysticetes) to have stranded
in the Philippines. The dugong, the only sirenian
among the recorded stranded marine mammals in
the Philippines, stranded seven times since 2001.
The top five most frequently observed species to
strand include the spinner dolphin (n = 26), short-
finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus)
(n = 14), melon-headed whale (n = 13), Risso’s
dolphin (Grampus griseus) (n = 11), and common
bottlenose dolphin (T. truncatus) (n = 10). Most of
the species stranded singly.
Species that were recorded to mass strand
at least twice included the pygmy killer whale
(Feresa attenuata), Risso’s dolphin, and common
bottlenose dolphin. Two out-of-habitat or near
mass strandings of melon-headed whales in
February and March 2009 consisted of at least
150 to 250 individuals for each event (Table 1)
(Aragones et al., unpub. data). There were three
species that stranded only once (n = 1): Irrawaddy
dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris), Longman’s
beaked whale, and an unidentified Balaenoptera
sp. whale. The species identification of 25 strand-
ing events remains unknown. These reports were
from the years 2003 to 2009 and included too little
detail to identify the species.
Seasonality of Strandings
Strandings occurred throughout the year, with fre-
quency of events peaking during the NE monsoon
(November to March) (N = 61; 34%) and dipping
during the lull period before the NE monsoon
(October) (N = 5; 5%) (Figure 3). A significant
difference in seasonality for strandings across
years (p = 0.041) was identified.
Spatial Variation of Strandings and Stranding
Hotspots
Two spatial scales, both based on geopolitical
boundaries—regional and provincial—were used
for management purposes as these are the relevant
political units that will implement respective pro-
grams to address issues, such as stranding, within
their respective boundaries. On a regional basis,
Regions III (Central Luzon) and VII (Central
Visayas) had the highest number of stranding
incidents (both n = 27) followed by Regions I
(Ilocos Region) (n = 22) and V (Bicol Region)
(n = 18) (Figure 4). On a provincial or LGU basis,
strandings were most frequent in the provinces
of Zambales (n = 14), followed by Cagayan (n =
10), Zamboanga City (n = 10), Bohol (n = 10),
Negros Oriental (n = 10), Pangasinan (n = 9), and
Bataan (n = 9) (see Figure 4). Of the three large
island groups in this country, Luzon presented
more strandings (n = 101) than Visayas (n = 43)
and Mindanao (n = 33) combined.
Some locations might be considered hotspots by
virtue of being a site of unusual stranding events.
In one case, Davao City (Region XI) is a hotspot
since this was where the Longman’s beaked
whale stranded in 2004. Similarly, the shoreline
of Bulacan (Region III) in Manila Bay is a hotspot
because this was where the first recorded speci-
men of the pygmy sperm whale in the Philippines
stranded. Similarly, Batangas is a hotspot because
it had the highest number (n = 4) of stranding of
baleen whales (Bryde’s).
Age Class and Gender
Age class was undetermined for about 29%
(n = 64) of all the stranded individuals that were
documented. For individuals for which age class
was determined (n = 158), 61% were adults
(
n = 96), 25% were subadults (n = 39), 9% were
calves (n = 15), and 5% were strandings of mother/
calf pairs (n = 8). Gender was not determined for
a large proportion (76%, n = 169) of stranded
individuals. When gender was determined, there
was an almost 1:1 ratio (females, n = 23; males,
n = 30).
Unknown
Figure 2. Annual frequency of strandings from the
Philippines
Unknown
Unknown
Lull (NE)
Lull (SW)
Figure 3. Yearly frequency of strandings during different
monsoon periods in the Philippines
224
Aragones et al.
Live Stranding
More than half (65%) of the stranding events
(n = 116) involved live animals. Of these 116
live events, 103 involved single individuals, eight
represented mass strandings, and five were out-
of-habitat. As for their disposition, 40% (n = 46)
of the live stranding incidents resulted in death
on site. Of the remaining incidents, 32% (n =
37) of the events involved individuals that were
released immediately, 4% (n = 5) swam back to
the open sea, 1% (n = 1) resulted in death of one
and release of the other individual (from the same
mass stranding), and 23% (n = 27) required reha-
bilitation (Figure 5). The overall survival rate for
rehabilitated individuals was 11% (3 out of 27)
(Figure 6): one was released and the other two
were considered nonreleasable individuals that
are still alive at OA. An adult female short-finned
pilot whale was euthanized.
Discussion
Diverse Marine Mammal Assemblage of Strandings
in the Philippines
This 12-year stranding dataset revealed many
interesting results regarding marine mammals in
the Philippines. First, it supports the suggested
diverse assemblage of marine mammals in the
Philippines. In one of the earliest works regard-
ing Philippine marine mammals, Leatherwood
Figure 4. Strandings from 1998 to 2009 identified by region. Solid circles
represent frequency of strandings in each region. Hotspot provinces and LGUs
are represented by shaded areas on the map.
Figure 4. Strandings from 1998 to 2009 identified by region; solid circles represent frequency of strandings in each region.
Hotspot provinces and LGUs are represented by shaded areas on the map.
225
Philippine Marine Mammal Strandings 1998-2009
et al. (1992) reported 17 species found around the
Philippines; three years later, Tan (1995) reported
20 species. Ten years later, Perrin et al. (2005)
removed two species (finless porpoise and pygmy
sperm whale) from Tan’s list because there were
no recently confirmed records of these species. In
2008, 27 species were reported within Philippine
territorial waters (Aragones, 2008). Of these, 23
have been recorded to strand. Recently, the first-
recorded specimen to confirm the presence of the
pygmy sperm whale in the Philippines came from
a stranding in Bulakan, Bulacan area of Manila
Bay (Aragones et al., unpub. data), increasing the
estimated total number of marine mammal spe-
cies in the Philippines from 27 to 28. The second
specimen for this species actually stranded in the
northwestern Luzon (Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte) less
than a month later.* Likewise, the first confirmed
specimen of the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin
in the Philippine waters came from a strand-
ing in Bagac, Bataan, in 2003 (Aragones, 2008).
One of the rarest cetacean species to strand in
the Philippines to date is the Longman’s beaked
whale. A subadult stranded in Davao City (Region
XI) in January 2004 (Acebes et al., 2005).
* For a complete list of strandings in the Philippines from
1998 to 2009, check out www.pmmsndatabase.upd.edu.
ph/RPStrandings98_09.pdf.
Temporal Variation in Strandings
Examination of temporal variation in strandings
from the Philippines indicated that these events
do vary temporally. Annual increases in stranding
events from 1998 to 2009 might be attributed to a
growing awareness of the general public regarding
the plight of marine mammals in the Philippines,
and the recognition of the need to address and
record stranding events. The first considerable
documented increase in stranding events occurred
in 2005-2006 (Figure 3). This was most likely
an artifact of an increase in people’s awareness
since 2005 was the year the PMMSN was initially
formed. The formation of the PMMSN and the
training of key BFAR personnel regarding marine
mammal stranding response spurred the devel-
opment of local response teams and networks in
various regional offices and greatly contributed
to an increased effort for recording and respond-
ing to these events. The second major spike in
stranding events was observed in 2009 (Figure
3); however, this was most likely an extraordi-
nary year for strandings (n = 48). This elevated
number of events may have been a result of the
increased media hype (both national and interna-
tional) regarding the unusual near mass strand-
ing (300 to 350 individuals) of melon-headed
whales in Bataan on February 10, 2009 (Aragones
et al., unpub. data). The weeklong media cover-
age (and Internet blogging) for this event resulted
in an increased awareness regarding dolphins and
whales nationwide. Whether educated or capti-
vated by such an unusual event, coastal residents
seemed more willing to report stranding events
than in the past. It is also possible that some ille-
gal fishing practice(s) or environmental changes
contributed to such an unusually high incidence of
strandings (see below). Further, it might be likely
that the annual average number of strandings of
15 from 1998 to 2009 represents an underestimate
in events because past incidents might have been
unreported. As systematic collection of data on
strandings continues nationwide, a more accurate
picture of the situation, including unusual interan-
nual variations (or oscillations, such as in 2009),
might be seen.
As for seasonality, an emerging pattern was
that more stranding events occurred during the NE
monsoons (Figure 3). One possible explanation is
that strong upwellings occur or that most upwell-
ings in the Philippines are at their maximum
during the NE monsoons as observed in the north-
western Luzon and eastern Mindanao (Udarbe-
Walker & Villanoy, 2001). More strandings were
recorded in the western section of Luzon than
anywhere else in the entire Philippine archipel-
ago during the NE monsoons. The NE monsoon
winds produce strong alongshore currents which
Fig
ure 5. Disposition of the initially live-stranded individuals from the
Philippines (1998-2009).
0
20
40
60
80
100
Rehabilit
ated
Died
Released
Out-of-
habitat
1 Died, 1
released
Percentage
Disposition
n=27
n=46
n=37
n=5
n=1
Rehabilitated
100
80
60
40
20
0
Died Released Out-of-habitat 1 died, 1 released
Disposition
Percentage
n = 27
n = 46
n = 37
n = 5
n = 1
Figure 5. Disposition of the initially live-stranded
individuals
Fig
ure 6. Condition of the animal after rehabilitation
Fig
ure 7. Stranding hotspots in the Philippines
Result of rehabilitation
Alive/kept Released Died Euthanized
n = 2
n = 1
n = 23
n = 1
100
80
60
40
20
0
Percentage
Figure 6. Condition of the animal after rehabilitation
226
Aragones et al.
flow along the shelf with sharp bends and steep
slope areas producing upwellings (Udarbe-Walker
& Villanoy, 2001; Amedo et al., 2002). This is an
interesting phenomenon that requires more com-
prehensive studies. In the island state of Tasmania
in Australia, increases in zonal and meridional
winds resulting in colder and presumably nutrient-
rich waters running along the southern Australian
land masses served as good predictors of increases
in stranding frequency (Evans et al., 2005).
Spatial Variation of Strandings and Stranding
Hotspots
The spatial variation in stranding events, which
lead to the identification of hotspots, can be attrib-
uted to several factors. The entire NW (Regions I
and III), northern (Region II), and SW (Batangas)
sections of Luzon; the Bicol peninsula; Central
Visayas (Region VII); southern Zamboanga penin-
sula (Region IX); and the Davao area (Region XI)
seem to be major stranding hotspots (Figure 7).
Differences in the frequency of stranding events
in space (i.e., the regional and provincial levels)
could be an artifact of (1) actual marine mammal
distribution, (2) prey availability, (3) intensity of
fishing efforts and propensity of illegal fishing
practice(s), and (4) variation in regional aware-
ness of folks in the coastal communities.
In the initial assessment for marine mammals
in the Philippines, western Luzon, Tañon Strait,
Bohol Sea, Sulu Sea, and Mindanao Sea, which
were some of the identified stranding hotspots,
were also areas of concern for cetaceans. These
waters had more species and high relative
Figure 7. Stranding hotspots in the Philippines
Figure 7. Stranding hotspots in the Philippines
227
Philippine Marine Mammal Strandings 1998-2009
abundance (Aragones, 2001). Moreover, Tañon
Strait and Sulu Sea, the only bodies of water that
have had comprehensive surveys for cetaceans,
exhibit high densities of several dolphins and
toothed whale species (Dolar et al., 2006).
The results were also consistent with the
known distribution for some species that have
been recorded and studied in the Philippines. For
instance, spinner dolphins were the most frequent
species recorded to strand (Table 2), particu-
larly along the Tañon Strait (between the islands
of Negros and Cebu) and the Bohol Sea, both
in Central Visayas (Region VII), and were also
frequently encountered in these waters during
surveys (Leatherwood et al., 1992; Abrenica
& Calumpong, 2002; Dolar et al., 2003, 2006;
Aragones, 2008; Aragones et al., unpub. data). All
recorded strandings of the humpback whale (n =
3) were in Northern Luzon where sightings have
been reported since 1964 (Slijper et al., 1964). A
stranding of an Irrawaddy dolphin in Dumangas,
Iloilo, in 2006 provided the first evidence that
such species was not restricted to Malampaya
Sound, Palawan. This has significant implications
with respect to the context of how to conserve
and manage this supposedly most endangered
cetacean species in the Philippines (Perrin et al.,
2005). Furthermore, the results validated the wide
distributional range of many marine mammal spe-
cies in the Philippines and suggest the possibil-
ity of multiple populations of some species. The
spinner, Fraser’s, Risso’s, and common bottlenose
dolphins; short-finned pilot whale; and dugong
all stranded at least once in Luzon, Visayas, and
Mindanao.*
The intensity of fishing efforts and propen-
sity of illegal fishing practices could also help
explain the spatial variation of strandings in the
Philippines. Most of the identified provincial
hotspots, such as Zambales, Bataan, Pangasinan,
Negros Oriental, and Bohol, with the exception
of Zamboanga City (heavily exploited, > 2 to 70
fishers/km), were all included in the very heav-
ily exploited fishing grounds (> 70 fishers/km)
in the Philippines (Tandog-Edralin et al., 1987;
Green et al., 2003). These areas are presumably
fisheries productive waters that can also serve as
marine mammal habitats, particularly for ceta-
ceans. The areas of concern for cetaceans identi-
fied by Aragones (2001), with more species and
high relative abundance, were also reported to
have intensive fishing efforts, resulting in com-
plex marine mammal-fisheries interactions (e.g.,
entanglements). It would not be surprising to
know that many illegal fishing operations occur
within these waters.
Prey availability might have contributed to the
observed spatial variation of stranding events.
Prey availability is known to be enhanced by
upwellings. As mentioned earlier, seasonal upwell-
ings have been recorded in the NW section of
Luzon (Udarbe-Walker & Villanoy, 2001). Most of
the marine mammal hotspot provinces (Zambales,
Bataan, Pangasinan, and Ilocos Norte) are located
in this section (Figure 4). Similarly, strong indica-
tors of upwelling in the northern Bicol shelf were
identified (Amedo et al., 2002); the Bicol region is
also considered a stranding hotspot.
Regional variation in stranding events could
also be attributed to differences in marine
mammal awareness. In Region III, the presence
of OA in Subic, Zambales, and the public educa-
tion messages regarding marine mammals that
OA has imparted could be contributing factors
on why this region has one of the highest number
of reported stranding events. The locals, particu-
larly those from Zambales and Bataan provinces,
often informed OA of stranding incidents, not
only involving marine mammals, but also other
large marine vertebrates, including sea turtles and
sharks. In fact, 24 of the 26 stranding events in
Region III were responded to by OA. In Region V,
the high records could be attributed to the region’s
commitment to responding to stranding events
by creating its own BFAR Region V Stranding
Response Team in 2007.
Live Strandings
The most intriguing result of this study is the
high proportion of live stranded individuals;
65% of total strandings were live. This appears
to be higher than in other countries that maintain
national databases with at least a ten-year data-
set. In Thailand, about 9% of stranded individu-
als were live (K. Adulyanukusol, pers. comm.,
1 January 2010). In Taiwan, 40% of cases from
1990 to 1997 were live strandings (L. S. Chou,
pers. comm., 1 January 2010). In South Australia,
only 11% of the recorded events from 1881 to
2000 were live (Kemper et al., 2005). On the east-
ern coast of the United States, only 17% involved
live strandings (Mead, 1979).
The seemingly high percentage of live strand-
ings observed could be attributed to several
reasons; three hypotheses are discussed. First,
acoustic trauma from dynamite blasts in the
waters where these animals strand is very plau-
sible in the Philippines. Some fishers use timer-
detonated dynamite to stun pelagic fishes in deep
waters during their fishing trips. Allegedly, fish-
ers were using this illegal technique to capture
pelagic fishes found in fish aggregating devices
(FADs). A credible informant, L. Artagame (pers.
comm., 9 November 2009), who happens to be the
Fisherfolk Representative to the National Fisheries
and Aquatic Resources Management Council
228
Aragones et al.
(NFARMC) and Chairman of the Integrated
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management
Council for Region III confirmed that several fish-
ing operators allegedly employed dynamite fishing
offshore Zambales and Bataan provinces the night
before the near mass stranding (out-of-habitat)
event of melon-headed whales in Pilar, Bataan, in
February 2009. In Cagayan, most stranding events
occurred in 2005 to 2007 (Figure 4) when there
had been several reports of dynamite blasting in
the area. These blastings were associated with fish-
ing and treasure hunting for underwater artifacts
from old shipwrecks. After dynamite fishing was
successfully halted by the BFAR Regional office
(Region II) and the Philippine Coast Guard, no
additional cases of strandings have been reported
in that area since 2008. Dynamite fishing in the
Philippines is now known as the infamous scourge
of Philippine seas (Green et al., 2003).
Second, interactions of marine mammals with
fisheries are very possible and might result in
entanglement. Entanglement could weaken the
animals, especially if they have to struggle before
being released. In Peru, high bycatch of small ceta-
ceans from artisanal fisheries has been reported
recently (Mangel et al., 2010). In the UK, 253 of
415 (61%) cetaceans subjected to full veterinary
necropsy from strandings between 1990 and 2006
were determined to have been victims of fisheries
bycatch (Leeney et al., 2008). The Philippines is
one of the world’s largest fish-producing nations,
but its waters are also among the most overfished
as the fishery resource is only 10% of what it
used to be 50 years ago (Green et al., 2003). In
2001, marine fisheries accounted for 57% of the
Philippines’ total fisheries production (Green et al.,
2003). However, as population increases (88.56
million Filipinos as of August 2007; National
Statistics Office [NSO], 2008), fishing efforts
increase as well, resulting in Malthusian fisheries.
Unfortunately, the Philippine archipelago, which
is supposed to be the center of the center of marine
shore fish biodiversity (Carpenter & Springer,
2005), are heavily negatively impacted by all of
these (Green et al., 2003).
The third possible factor for the many live
marine mammal strandings may be associated
with increasing frequency and intensity of harm-
ful algal blooms in the Philippines. Since the first
recorded occurrence of a harmful algal bloom
(HAB) (Pyrodinium bahamense var. compres-
sum) in Manila Bay in 1983 (Bajarias & Relox,
1996; Azanza et al., 2004), many more similar
HAB species (e.g., Cochlodinium polykrikoides,
Noctiluca scintillans, Alexandrium sp.) have
been reported throughout the Philippines (e.g.,
Masinloc, Zambales [Bajarias, 1995]; Western
Palawan [Azanza et al., 2008]; and Cancabato Bay,
Leyte [Marasigan et al., 1995]). In fact, from 1983
to 2002, the Philippines had 40 outbreaks of HABs
in at least 22 coastal areas with subsequent fish
kill and shellfish poisoning episodes (Relox &
Bajarias, 2003). Although detection of algal toxins
in stranded marine mammals has yet to occur in the
Philippines, it is likely that cetaceans are exposed
to biotoxins from HABs through their prey items.
Recently, Leandro et al. (2010) suggested that expo-
sure of the critically endangered North Atlantic
right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) to marine bio-
toxins such as domoic acid is another possible
reason for its failed recovery. Since marine mam-
mals are long-lived and travel significant distances,
they could serve as proxies to detect changes in our
marine environment (Bossart, 2009). Obviously,
a combination of biotoxins, fisheries interactions,
and acoustic trauma could worsen the situation for
these marine mammals.
Special Considerations for the Irrawaddy Dolphin,
the Dugong, and Calves
Stranded animals listed as endangered or rare spe-
cies should be given special considerations during
rescues if for no other reason than their decreased
numbers and the often limited information about
them. In the Philippines, the Irrawaddy dolphin
and the dugong are probably the two most endan-
gered marine mammals (Aragones, 2008); the
former by virtue of a very limited distributional
range (Dolar et al., 2002; Smith et al., 2004; Perrin
et al., 2005), and the latter because of its affiliation
to the coastal areas, particularly seagrass beds,
which is the same zone where human populations
are migrating into, records of direct and indirect
takes occur, and overexploitation is encountered
(Hines et al., in press).
In the case of stranded marine mammal calves,
they require highly specialized, resource intensive,
long-term care. In the event that these animals are
nonreleasable, they still have conservation value
as ambassadors to showcase the plight of their
cousins in the wild when they are exhibited in an
oceanarium, which raises the issue of the avail-
ability of appropriate facilities for the long-term
care of nonreleaseable stranded marine mammals
in the Philippines. Presently, there is only Ocean
Adventure in Subic Bay that has the facilities and
capability to properly care for and maintain reha-
bilitated marine mammals in the Philippines.
Recommendations
Although it has been a remarkable step to collate
stranding data on a national level, more effort and
involvement is needed to record as much data as
possible on every stranding event and develop a
more comprehensive picture of the Philippine
229
Philippine Marine Mammal Strandings 1998-2009
scenario. Through time, we expect the quality,
accuracy, and completeness of data to improve.
The large proportions of unknown species identi-
fication, age class, and gender in our dataset will
eventually be reduced once people become more
familiar with marine mammals and stranding pro-
tocols. Collections of comprehensive data will
likely lead to greater accuracy in determining the
possible causes of strandings, and the influence of
human activities on these events than our present
dataset. An examination of the possible impacts
of dynamite fishing and other similar underwater
noises resulting in acoustic trauma, marine mam-
mal-fisheries interactions such as bycatch and
entanglements, and possible exposure to biotox-
ins for the Philippine marine mammals should be
more thoroughly investigated.
Marine mammal stranding response capabil-
ity and related facilities should be developed and
improved. The development of regional strand-
ing rescue teams and rehabilitation centers, espe-
cially in the identified hotspots in the Philippines
(see relevant discussion above), could increase
the efficiency of the recording of and success in
responding to strandings. In addition, survival rate
of live-stranded individuals can be increased fur-
ther through a quick response and a well-planned
rehabilitation program. In addition, the need for
an enabling law in the Philippines (with fund
allocation), similar to the U.S. Marine Mammal
Protection Act, providing for National Stranding
Alert Networks and the Marine Mammal Health
and Stranding Response Program (MMHSRP) is
imperative.
Finally, local and national awareness regarding
marine mammals and strandings must continue to
grow. This can be enhanced by the website of the
PMMSN database, which is now online (www.
pmmsndatabase.upd.edu.ph). It is likely that the
majority of strandings still go unreported, but the
more strandings to which we can respond and sys-
tematically collect data, the more we learn about
these individuals, the species, and the status of
marine mammals in the Philippine waters overall.
Acknowledgments
Funding for this study was provided by the
University of the Philippines (UP)–Diliman
Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and
Development–Outright Grant to LVA to conduct the
regional visits nationwide, establish the PMMSN
database, and develop its website. Thanks to the
SeaWorld Busch Gardens Conservation Funds
for funding the trainings on marine mammal
stranding response in the Philippines, which led
to the formation of the PMMSN. We are grateful
to the BFAR Director Malcolm Sarmiento and
all Regional Directors for allowing us access to
their data on marine mammal strandings. Thanks
to the UP-Institute of Environmental Science
and Meteorology, Ocean Adventure, Wildlife In
Need, IDESS Maritime Centre, BFAR, and the
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management
Councils (FARMCs) throughout the Philippines
for their cooperation. Finally, many thanks to all
those who contributed data and to the volunteers
who responded to stranded marine mammals—
dead or alive. We thank Kathleen Dudzinski and
Ellen Hines for helpful comments to improve the
manuscript. This paper is UP-IESM contribution
number 22.
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Appendix 1. Date of visit to different BFAR regional offices and corresponding names per region
Region Name of region Location of regional office Date of visit
I Ilocos Region San Fernando City, La Union 5 October 2009
II Cagayan Valley Tuguegarao City, Cagayan 21-23 October 2008
III Central Luzon Pampanga and Bulacan Not visited (via telephone)
IVA CALABARZON (Southern Tagalog A) Quezon City, Metro Manila 14-15 July 2009
IVB MIMAROPA (Southern Tagalog B) Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro Through correspondence
V Bicol Region Pili, Camarines Sur 10-14 October 2008
VI Western Visayas Iloilo City Through correspondence
VII Central Visayas Cebu City, Cebu 24-25 August 2009
VIII Eastern Visayas Tacloban City, Leyte 6-8 March 2009
IX Zamboanga Peninsula Zamboanga City 31 July to 1 August 2009
X Northern Mindanao Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental 4-5 September 2009
XI Davao Region Davao City 21-23 November 2009
XII SOCCSKSARGEN General Santos City, South Cotabato 16-17 November 2009
XIII Caraga Butuan City, Agusan del Norte 8-9 September 2009
CAR Cordillera Autonomous Region
(landlocked)
Baguio City, Benguet Not visited
ARMM Autonomous Region of
Muslim Mindanao
Cotabato City, Maguindanao 10-11 November 2009
233
Philippine Marine Mammal Strandings 1998-2009
Appendix 2. Stranding response report form (after Aragones & Laule, 2008)
Appendix 2. Stranding response report form (after Aragones and Laule, 2008)
