On Sunday, an I River dolphin (aka alligator dolphin), which was watched by environmental groups, died in a shark attack in the waters off the Philippine province of Innergro West.
It was announced by the Lumba Project of the University of St. La Salle Research and Engagement Center in the Philippines, which studies critically endangered River Iwa dolphins found in Bago and Puupandan in the province of Negros west.
The group said in a self-media platform post on Tuesday: "We are dismayed to announce that one of the I River dolphins we identified, N-08 (also known as 'Sheared with cut' or 'Fuji') died on Sunday, March 14. ”
Fishermen from the Taloc community in the city of Bago reported that they had witnessed the dolphin being attacked by something that looked like a large shark when they returned from a fishing trip in the Guimaras Strait, according to the group.
They rescued the weak and injured dolphin from the surface of the water and tried to rescue it, but it did not survive.
The dolphin's dorsal chest area was torn apart with large chunks of skin and muscle.
The group said the scratched part was also surrounded by rake marks on the dolphin's pectoral fin, while large triangular marks were also found on the exposed muscles, all suggesting shark attack.
The group earlier said the I River dolphins in the Guimaras Strait are the most endangered mammals in the West Visayas region, with populations at dangerously low levels.
The Lumba project is grateful to those who helped with this stranding and the subsequent animal carcasses.