A bottlenose dolphin beached in Tigbauan town, Province of Iloilo.

The stranding was spotted at about 3 p.m. on June 30, 2025 in Barangay Barroc.

Residents tried to help the dolphin swim back to deeper waters. However, according to the Tigbauan Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO), the dolphin sustained seven large wounds.

Based on investigation, it was determined that the wounds were perpetrated by a shark attack.

MENRO officials surmised that a cookie cutter shark may have caused the wounds.

The dolphin reached seven feet long.

MENRO personnel immediately applied topical medicine to the dolphin’s wounds. Attempts were made to bring the dolphin back to the sea, but it drifted to the seashore every time.

At about 5 p.m., the dolphin died.

MENRO workers buried the dolphin in the seashore.

“Upon my assessment, nakita ko na parang hindi na ito magtatagal kasi malalim ang kanyang mga sugat at lumalabas na ang kanyang internal organs,” said Ariel Tentia, Tigbauan MENRO’s wildlife enforcement officer.