MORONG, Bataan- The Ocean Adventure at the Subic Bay Freeport on Wednesday conducted tests preparatory to the rehabilitation of the rough-toothed dolphin found stranded in the shallow portion of the sea in Candelaria, Zambales.
Dr. Mariel Flores, marine mammal veterinarian, took blood, stool, mucous and gastric samples of the dolphin placed at an inflatable pool at the Ocean Adventure rehabilitation center. Workers took turns in assisting the mammal to swim.
She said that gastric sample is necessary to determine if there is bleeding inside the stomach or if the dolphin has eaten garbage. “Lumalabas ang plema sa blow hole kaya dapat masuri upang malaman kung may mikrobyo,” Flores said.
She said that it has also sign of dehydration and needs gastric incubation. She said that the condition of the dolphin has however improved.
“From last night, improved na ang breathing at paglangoy bagama’t may stress pa rin dahil nasaktan ang gill sa mababaw na bahagi ng dagat at pagkatapos nakalagay lang sa stretcher ng ilang oras sa pagkabiyahe.” The veterinarian said.
She force-fed the dolphin that has not taken any food for two days with herrings and small squid.
“Ang pagtagal ng dolphin dito depende sa response nito sa rehabilitation,” Flores said when asked how long it would take before it will be returned to the sea.
The dolphin is about two meters in length. “More than adult, matanda na ito dahil pudpod na ang mga ngipin,” she said.
She said that there were two rough-toothed dolphins that got stranded in Candelaria. “Parang nina-nurse ng isa itong may sakit ngunit nang magdatingan ang maraming tao, umalis na itong isa,” the veterinarian said.
