Dolphin Yoyó returns home to Sarangani Bay

 

ALABEL, Sarangani (December 9, 2022) – A stranded young adult male Dolphin, rescued on December 6 in the shores of Barangay Bula, General Santos City, was released back into Sarangani Bay early morning on Friday, December 9.

Protected Area Management Office in-house veterinarian Dr. Roy Mejorada said the Dolphin is “a young adult male Spinner Dolphin.”

He said Department of Environment and Natural Resources- Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Maria Elvira Lumayag and Protected Area Superintendent Joy Ologuin named the Dolphin “Yoyó.”

Yoyó had his last rehab in the Circular Tank Facility at the aquaculture farm of Alsons Aquaculture Corporation in Alabel prior to his second attempt for release on Friday.

Alsons’ operations manager, Israel Mosquera, said their company and with former Sarangani Governor Miguel Rene A. Dominguez, “we always have the heart to help, rescue, and protect Sarangani Bay.”

Mejorada said Yoyó was rescued by the community in Barangay Bula. “The Marine Mammals Rescue Team, the City ENRO of Gensan, DENR community, ENRO Buayan, and BFAR,” immediately provided supportive care being the first responders.

On Wednesday morning, Mejorada said, “binalik namin s’ya sa dagat para ma-assess ‘yung swimming and buoyancy n’ya kasi parang wala s’yang balance.

After three hours of supportive care, he said, Yoyó suddenly swam faster to open waters but ended up re-stranded at Makar area in General Santos City.

The Philippine National Police Maritime and BFAR responded and transferred Yoyó to Alsons Aquaculture farm on Wednesday afternoon.

“Back to zero ang rehab. We gave him food, manually, and observed his balance. Kahapon Thursday, improved na ‘yung condition n’ya. Last night no need for human support,” Mejorada said.

He said the Dolphin had no major injuries. “So far, minor scratches lang ‘yung nakikita natin,” and he could not determine the cause behind the stranding “kasi walang sugat and the animal is healthy. Robust s’ya, hindi payat.”

According to Mejorada, this “would mean na parang wala s’yang iniindang na sakit prior to the stranding. Baka may sudden stimulus or impact na natamo or disoriented s’ya, kaya napadpad sa shore.”

Mejorada hoped “hindi na s’ya mare-restrand" and alerted all the coastal barangays and the city "for a possible restranding within the day or after ilang days.”

Lumayag said they will continue their monitoring “kasi dito talaga sa Sarangani Bay, we have a lot of marine mammals. That’s why, we are trying to strengthen our enforcement dito sa Bay.”

Sarangani Bay is a haven of marine mammals which include Dugong or Seacow, Dolphins, and marine turtles. Dugong was made the Bay’s flagship species. (Beverly C. Paoyon & photos by Jake Narte / SARANGANI PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE)

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