By HENRY EMPEÑO | February 24, 2024

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — A male rough-toothed dolphin which stranded several times in Pangasinan province last week is now recuperating here at the Ocean Adventure theme park’s dolphin rehabilitation facility.

Robert Gonzaga, president and CEO of Subic Bay Marine Exploratorium Inc., the parent firm of Ocean Adventure, said “Hart” was brought here last Tuesday, February 20, and is now getting the best attention possible by Ocean Adventure’s animal care team.

“Hart is receiving tailored treatment, including antibiotics, liver support, electrolytes, and supplements to address various health concerns,” Gonzaga said. “Additionally, physical therapy has been initiated to alleviate the mild scoliosis observed in Hart’s peduncle,” he added.

A dolphin’s peduncle, located between its dorsal fin and its tail, is made up of muscles that help the animal swim through the water and jump out of it. Experts suspect that Hart may have developed mild scoliosis due to restricted swimming space in a rehabilitation pen where he was brought after stranding.

The rough-toothed dolphin (Steno bredanensis) initially stranded in Brgy. Aloleng, Agno, Pangasinan on February 13. Local fisherfolk who found him released him back into the sea.

However, the following day Hart re-stranded at Brgy. Buboy in Agno, and despite several attempts by fisherfolk and personnel from the local government unit to coach him back into deeper waters, he persistently returned to the shore.

As this might indicate the dolphin’s compromised health status, authorities decided to bring Hart on February 14 to the rehabilitation pen of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR-1) on Cariaz Island in Alaminos town, so that he can get round-the-clock intensive care.

Following apparent improvement in his condition, animal experts made another attempt to release Hart into the sea on February 18, but he was soon reported to have stranded again, this time in San Fabian town, more than 90 kilometers away from where he was first found.

Because of Hart’s recurring stranding, Dr. Hasmin Chogsayan of BFAR-1 recommended his immediate transfer to Ocean Adventure’s facility in Subic Bay, reputedly the only place in the country where specialized care could be administered to the animal.

Gonzaga said that at Ocean Adventure, which is a member of the Philippine Marine Mammal Stranding Network (PMMSN), Hart receives “the best care possible by people who will go to great lengths and do whatever is necessary to save marine mammals in distress.”

Hart was the latest dolphin to be brought to the rehabilitation facility here in Subic. Last year, animal experts here took care of “Marshy”, an adult female rough-toothed dolphin, who was believed to be the victim of a dynamite blast.

Marshy stranded in Brgy. Hermosa, Dasol, Pangasinan and local authorities who responded to the rescue call found that it was no longer floating on its own and had no balance.

In March 2024, two spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris), “Valentina” and “Scarlett”, were also brought to Ocean Adventure for rehabilitation after being found beached in Ilocos Norte. Animal experts said they were evidently survivors of blast fishing but suffered from acoustic trauma. 