By Alexander Lopez
In Butuan City, residents found two deceased marine mammals in separate towns within the Caraga Region on Tuesday.
One of the findings was reported by the local government unit (LGU) of Cortes in Surigao del Sur, which stated that a dead dugong was recovered from the coastal area of Barangay Tag-anongan.
“The dead dugong was sighted by residents floating in the seawaters of Barangay Tag-anongan,” the Cortes LGU announced in a statement on Wednesday.
The remains of the marine mammal were brought ashore and reported by local officials to concerned authorities.
The dugong’s cause of death remains undetermined, pending an ongoing investigation.
Meanwhile, a dead sperm whale was found beached in the area of Magpupungko Rock Pools in Barangay Pilaring, Pilar town in Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte.
The whale found on Tuesday was already decomposing
and was immediately buried.
No laboratory examination was done on dead sperm whale for health hazard reasons, a source from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in the Caraga Region who requested anonymity said. (PNA)