IVANA, Batanes – A dead whale was discovered on the shore of this town on Sunday, July 23.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)-Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) said teacher Jurgen Castaño and Ferdinand T. Verso of the BFAR-Region 2 found the remains of the Blainville's Beaked Whale (𝘔𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘥𝘰𝘯 𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘴) at 5:40 a.m. during a fishing trip.
Dr. Janie T. Cipriano, Veterinarian III of the BFAR provincial office in Basco, examined the whale to determine cause of death.
The marine mammal named “𝐈𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐚” sustained 15 wounds of which six measuring about three to four centimeters in diameter were healing. These apparently caused the whale to die.
Ritchie A. Rivera, provincial fishery officer, lauded the participation of civic groups, the local government, and partner law enforcement agencies for providing heavy equipment for the proper disposal of the marine mammal.
Rivera said this was his fourth time in his 10 years as provincial fishery officer to experience marine mammal stranding in the area.