Kalibasib, the lone captive tamaraw in PH dies

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said the lone captive tamaraw named Kalibasib (Kalikasang Bagong Sibol) died last Saturday.

Kalibasib or “Kali” passed away at around 2:30 p.m. at the Tamaraw Gene Pool Farm in Barangay Manoot, Rizal, Occidental Mindoro.

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DENR said Kali suffered diarrhea on Friday but was still eating then. On Saturday, the tamaraw ate bananas mid-morning.

Kali was the only progeny of the tamaraw gene pool farm.

Kali was born on June 24, 1999, and died at the age of 21. DENR said he is the longest living tamaraw on record.

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A tamaraw’s expected life span is from 20 to 25 years old, equivalent to 80 to 100 years old in human age (multiplied by four).

The tamaraw’s once decreasing numbers led to creating the gene pool, where experts hoped to breed Kalibasib’s kind.

Meanwhile, a Bryde’s whale was stranded off Barangay Dungon, Banguingui, Sulu this Sunday morning. Fishers in the area saw it.

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The fishermen immediately informed the local government of what they had seen, so their representatives rushed to the area.

Bryde’s whale is 39 to 40 feet long. He said it was still moving when it was first seen and died later while being examined by representatives of the local government unit.

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Kalibasib, the lone captive tamaraw in PH dies

Bryde’s whale was taken to the port of Barangay Dungon. LGU Banguingui also informed the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Sulu of the incident.

This is said to be the first time that this species has been found in the area.

Bryde’s whale is a member of the baleen whale family. It is also considered a “great whale” like blue whales and humpback whales.

Bryde’s whales are commonly found in warm ocean temperatures such as the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific.

They are considered vulnerable due to threats to their population, such as hunting and ocean noise.

Bryde’s whales are protected by law under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Banguingui LGU is still studying how to bury Bryde’s whale due to its excessive size and weight.