The remains of a 10.48-meter male Sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis) washed up in the shores of Barangay Gabi, Gigantes Sur Island in Carles, Iloilo on February 4, 2019. According to a report from the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Office of Carles to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), the whale got stranded while it was “in pursuit of target food” and was possibly strangled based on the rope that was found around its body. “It was suspected that incident was a result of the animal’s pursuit of target food which is presumed to be abundant in the near-shore areas or Gigantes Islands due to the implementation of the marine protected area and the continuous campaign against illegal fishing,” the report added.

Santiagudo, E. R. (2019, February 6). Whale washes up in northern Iloilo town. The Daily Guardian, p. 2.