SANCHEZ MIRA, Cagayan – Amid the heavy rains spawned by tropical depression ‘Maymay,’ an adult male Pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps) was found dead along the coast of Brgy. Magatan in this town.

A report from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources on Thursday, Oct 13 said a fisherfolk discovered the dead whale at around 6:30 in the morning on Wednesday, Oct. 12.
A local government unit personnel named Ridel Cabulisan reported the discovery to the nearest Department of Agriculture–Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) 2 farm facility for assessment of the marine mammal’s condition.
Based on the necropsy conducted by the Marine Mammal Stranding and Rescue Operation Task Force headed by Dr. Jefferson Soriano of the 2.10-meter pygmy whale, major findings showed the presence of foamy fluid in the animal’s throat up to the lungs.
The animal’s empty stomach contained heavy loads of parasites, although its internal organs were intact and showed no internal bleeding.
The BFAR said samples were collected for further examination to the Philippine Marine Mammal Stranding Network (PMMSN) Laboratory.
Soriano noted that ‘whales and dolphins are mammals and can breathe air into their lungs.
They cannot breathe underwater like fish can as they do not have gills. They breathe through nostrils called a blowhole located right on top of their heads.
The harsh weather may have added to the weakened state of the animal and eventually caused its death, the report said.