Dugong, Irrawaddy dolphin face extinction in PHL

What do dugong and Irrawaddy dolphin have one thing in common?

Both are on their way to extinction in the Philippines, according to a new book released early this month.

“Populations of dugong and Irrawaddy dolphin in the country were found declining despite legislation and conservation efforts,” said Marine Wildlife Watch of the Philippines, one of the leading researchers of the book, in a statement.

“(Both species) continue to face threats such as destruction of habitat, entanglement in fishing nets, solid wastes, coastal development, boat traffic, and sedimentation all made more severe with climate change impacts,” the statement added.

The “Red List Status of Marine Mammals in the Philippines”—the most comprehensive and up-to-date list of the country’s threatened dolphins, whales and dugong—assessed the conservation status of 26 out of 28 marine mammal species and subspecies found in the country.

The dugong (Dugong dugon) and Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris) have been considered as “critically endangered,” which means both “face an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.”

Dugong is locally called “baboy-dagat” (pig of the sea). It is one of the only four living members of the obscure mammalian Sirenia or sea cows. In the Philippines, a small number can be found in the shallow waters of Palawan Province, Romblon Island, Guimaras Island, and Pujada Bay in Davao Oriental.

The Irrawaddy dolphin exists in small isolated populations around Southeast Asia. In the Philippines, this type of dolphin is found in Malampaya Sound in Palawan.

In addition to the dugong and Irrawaddy dolphin, 24 other marine mammals found in the Philippines were assessed by at least 20 scientists, experts, researchers and conservation managers based on the Red List categories and criteria set by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

The book contains texts, photos, maps, and illustrations providing relevant government agencies, non-governmental organizations, advocacy groups, and even individuals with science-based information that may influence policy decisions and actions toward reversing or at least halting, the decline in Philippine marine biodiversity.

The national marine mammal “Red List” assessment also identified four other marine mammal species as “vulnerable.” These are the humpback whale, Fraser’s dolphin, Gray’s spinner dolphin, and the sperm whale.

Twenty out of the 24 species and subspecies assessed in the Red List Status were found to be “data deficient” as there has not been adequate research on their condition, threats, and capacity for survival.

“This does not mean that these animals are out of the ‘red’ and not threatened. It just shows that there is an urgent need for more research,” explained Dr. AA Yaptinchay, Director of Marine Wildlife Watch of the Philippines.

According to the press statement, studies on these species are necessary for conservation planning, policy making on local and international levels, and monitoring trends in extinction and tracking of progress towards conservation of the remaining populations.

“Hopefully, this publication will encourage our nation to provide the extra effort to ensure the protection of these threatened animals as well as their habitats,” Yaptinchay said.

“Perhaps in the next assessment, we will see an improvement on their status. It will be very sad if their status becomes worse, because extinction is the only step left after a Critically Endangered listing,” he added. –

By Henrylito D. Tacio

Photo by WWF-Philippines Palawan project leader Mavic Matillano.