By Macky Macavinta

SARANGANI BAY (May 26, 2010) – As part of the Sarangani government’s advocacy for the preservation of its bay, several members from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), along with volunteers from the different environmental agencies from government and non-government
organizations and local tourism coordinators from the private sector, conducted a series of surveys in the identification and documentation of local marine mammal life in the area.

Led by WWF Philippines CEO Lorie Tan, the expedition team jumped off from the Tinoto wall in Maasim, for the second of a two-day expedition. The team spent almost 10 hours per day for two days aboard a boat circling the bay from Maasim to Kiamba to the off shores of
Glan in surveying the bay for sightings of marine mammals, such as whales and dolphins.

Leaving the Tinoto docks early at 5:30am, the group was greeted with the welcome sight of a pygmy sperm whale less than 30 minutes into the trip and just off the coast of Maasim. Additional individual whales of other species were sighted by noontime, proving that Sarangani Bay is home and in abundance of these such marine mammals.

Whale-watching-volunteers

“We plan to hold this activity regularly as to have a better idea on the habits of the local marine mammal community,” said Michelle Solon, Sarangani Tourism Coordinator. “There have been numerous sightings of such animals by the local residents but this is the first time that we have confirmed it visually, and the presence of the WWF on this trip greatly helps with proper documentation which was nonexistent before.”

Members of the expedition went through a series of training, from the different species of marine mammals and identifying each individual to the preservation and protection of wildlife on May 22 which was attended by the different environmental agencies of the local
government, volunteers from non-government organizations and local tourism agencies.

This expedition is a new addition to the series of activities for the advocacy of the preservation and protection of Sarangani Bay and its marine culture.

In line with these events, environmentalist and painter Amado Saño, along with local artists, painted wall murals in different schools in Maasim and Kiamba which depict the plight of marine mammals worldwide and hopefully would raise the awareness of the local communities. Saño started creating his murals in March this year and has so far painted
600 dolphins in different walls, gates and residences across the country. He plans to accomplish 400 more in Sarangani within the next few days. As part of his advocacy, Saño’s goal is to paint 23,000 dolphins across the country, to represent the number of dolphins
slaughtered in a seven month period in Japan alone. (SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)