Bryde's whale sighted in Bohol

CEBU, Philippines - It was sighted in late 1990’s, Bryde’s (pronounced “brudu”) whale made a comeback when it was sighted somewhere off Pamilacan island in Baclayon town, said Dr. Alessandro Ponzo of Physallus organization in an e-mail copy furnished to The FREEMAN.

“The LaMaVe (Large Mammal Vertebrate) Project crew was very excited to spot the same animal on two days (March 21-22). These sightings lend hope that the Bryde’s whale population may be making a comeback,” said Ponzo.

He said the group of marine biologist researchers of Jagna-based LaMaVe has spotted the marine animal while undertaking a two-day whale shark survey, adding that the Bryde’s “greets the arrival of summer.”

Ponzo said that up until the mid-1990s, the whalers targeted this species was in the area for commercial purposes. The last one landed in 1993. “Unfortunately, due to over-exploitation, sightings of Bryde’s whales have been virtually non-existant in the Bohol Sea until the past few years,” he said.

The whale has some cuts or injuries on its dorsal fins caused by cookie cutty shark bites, said Ponzo while calling on every one for help and report any of its presence to the researchers by texting to 09277701420 or on the Large Marine Vertebrate Project Facebook page.