Playful dolphins seen in Albay Gulf in the Philippines

According to The Manila Times, Dr. Allan Schapira, an environmentalist and retired World Health Organization physician, and his group were heading back to Legazpi City from Barangay Mataas in Cagraray Island, Bacacay town when they spotted hundreds of frolicking dolphins and a gentle giant whale shark locally called butanding in the waters of Barangay Buhatan, Sto. Domingo.

According to local fisherfolk Marlon Abion, the dolphins first reappeared in Albay Gulf two weeks ago for the feeding season.

Abion, skilled at spotting dolphins from a long distance, said he can safely maneuver his wooden banca near the aquatic mammals but not too close to ensure the protection and safety of the dolphins.

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Albay Gulf is a large gulf in the Bicol Peninsula of Luzon Island in the Philippines. Image courtesy of Wikipedia.

The Manila Times mentions, environmentalists and local tourists welcome the presence of dolphins, but according to the Integrated Coastal Resource Management (ICRM) Unit of Legazpi City, some fisherfolk are not happy with its presence because dolphins take a lot of fish from the gulf.

The ICRM was organized to protect the city's natural marine resources as well as to promote sustainable development and ensure food security for the people of Legazpi.

Nonie Enolva, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-Bicol Marine Fisheries Resources Management Section chief and spokesperson, said dolphins regularly visit Albay Gulf, specifically in Sto. Domingo, because there is an abundant source of food in the area.

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The Manila Times says, for a period of time, the gulf in Albay becomes a playing and nourishing ground for these marine mammals.

According to Enolva, the most common species are the spinner dolphins, striped dolphins and the common bottlenose dolphins.

During this time of the year, Albay Gulf is rich in round scad (galunggong), planktons, squids, shrimps, jellyfish, octopuses and kuwaw (red fish) which are all included in the dolphins' diet.

Dolphins move and migrate in pods. They hunt as a group and usually surround a shoal of small fish and crowd them together.