Dolphin, sea turtle trapped in fishing net rescued, freed

BIEN-UNIDO, BOHOL, Philippines — Rescuers of this coastal town and of Dauis town have recently rescued and freed a dolphin and a sea turtle that were trapped in a fishing net.

Reports relayed by Physalus president Dr. Alessandro Ponzo revealed that Mayor Nino Rey Boniel called on the rescuers, belonging to the Bohol Rescue Unit for Marine Mammals, for help in freeing a dolphin that got entangled in a fishing net of a certain Alex Auxtero of this town.

It was Auxtero who informed the mayor of the dolphin that was trapped in his fish net on the night of July 2 somewhere in the seawaters of this town, said the mayor.

Ponzo however expressed concern over the way the dolphin "was held in abeyance" overnight due to heavy downpour and darkness at the time. The dolphin was tied by the rope, Ponzo said, adding that tt was a "dangerous procedure that would have resulted in breaking the spine of the animal."

In Dauis town, a sea turtle was also caught in a mesh owned by Johnny Obispo, chairman of the Dauis Municipal Agri-Fishery council, who reported it to Ellen Gallares of the Bohol Marine Triangle.

Gallares called on the BRUMM and Victoria Elle, head of wildlife division of the DENR for assistance. She said the turtle looked "stressed" while trapped, and it was lucky it did not land in a restaurant as a delicacy.

The rescuers later freed the turtle back to the seas, said Gallares, adding that it was the third time a turtle was rescued in Dauis.

Mayor Boniel and Physalus lauded the rescuers: Edilberto Nuera of the Office of Civil Defense; Rev. Fr. Edgardo Modesto, boat operators Auxtero, Jose Blanco and Winnie Mundin; Wilfredo Villamero of the Local Risk Management Council; Chief Insp. Felicito Garcia; Marcelito Garcia, Raymund Daan, Cornelio Cajes, Jose Garcia of Bohol Environment Management Office; Jesreel Muera and marine biologist Kristina Pahang of Physalus. (FREEMAN)