Dolphins belong to a group of animals called cetaceans which is comprised of baleen and toothed whales. Essentially, dolphins are toothed whales which belong to the Family Delphinidae.
In the Philippines there is a total of 26 species of cetaceans. We have in our waters a wide range of species including the biggest animal on the planet, the blue whale, as well as the small spinner dolphins. Some cetaceans are residents of a place, some travel between islands, while others migrate beyond the Philippine territorial waters.
The major threats these animals encounter include hunting, getting caught in fishing net accidentally, pollution and degradation of their habitat.
Dolphins are protected by law
It is illegal to take or catch, sell, purchase, possess, transport and export dolphins, whales and porpoises in the Philippines. Dolphins and all cetaceans are protected in the Philippines through the Fisheries Administrative Order (FAO) number 185 and 185-1 as well as FAO 208, the Fisheries Code, the Wildlife Act, and the Animal Welfare Act. However the reality is that these laws are not always enforced.
Dolphin watching in the Philippine seas
You need to experience dolphins in their natural habitat to be able to understand and appreciate them fully. Dolphin watching is the best and only way to enjoy dolphins.
We have fantastic dolphin and whale watching sites in the Philippines such as the waters around Pamilacan Island in Bohol, Tanon Strait in Negros Oriental, Puerto Princesa Bay and the Babuyan Islands to name the top ones.
Most of our dolphins are considered threatened, vulnerable, endangered or even critically endangered. We must do everything in our means to ensure their survival in the wild.
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