By Alexander Lopez

DEAD BEAKED WHALE. Experts from the North Eastern Mindanao State University – Lianga Campus examine a dead beaked whale found in the coastal waters of Lianga, Surigao del Sur on Monday (May 4, 2026). This marks the second time a dead beaked whale has been found in the municipality’s waters since April last year. (Photo courtesy of Marine Biological Students’ Society – NEMSU)

BUTUAN CITY – A male beaked whale was found dead in the coastal waters of Lianga, Surigao del Sur on Monday, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) 13 (Caraga) said Wednesday.

Edwin Igsoc, municipal agriculture officer of Lianga, said they immediately reported the finding to the North Eastern Mindanao State University (NEMSU) – Lianga Campus, particularly its College of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (CFAS), for examination.

“The beaked whale was found floating by a local fisherman, who brought it ashore using his motor banca,” Igsoc said in an interview on Wednesday.

He said the whale was already decomposing, prompting his office to call experts from NEMSU-CFAS for examination.

In its report on Monday, NEMSU-CFAS said gastrointestinal analysis of the 3.86-meter whale showed “shrimp exoskeletons and a fish hook in its gut.”

Marine biology students from NEMSU will flense the whale carcass to preserve its skeleton, as it is considered a rare species, for future educational display.

“This is the second time that a dead beaked whale has been found in our coastal waters. The first one was recorded in April last year,” Igsoc said, adding that authorities also examined a dugong found on Lianga’s coastline last year. (PNA)