Humpback Whale Conservation

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WWF Humpback Whale Research & Conservation Project
Babuyan Islands, Cagayan
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FEBRUARY 2002

SUNDAY

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THUSRDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
          1Training at WWF office in Quezon City. Left Manila for Anilao, Batangas 2- Cetacean Research Training in Anilao, Batangas.
3- Cetacean Research Training in Anilao, Batangas. 4- Cetacean Research Training in Anilao, Batangas.  Went back to Manila. 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25Final inventory of Expedition equipment 26- Leave Manila for Sta. Ana, Cagayan
via Florida Bus
27- Sta. Ana, Cagayan, St. Anthony College,  preparation of equipment 28- Participated with Lissa Lesaca's Project L.I.F.E.
Jom, Carl & A.G. left for Aparri to buy supplies
   

 

MARCH 2002

SUNDAY

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THUSRDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
          1Survey test near San Vicente & Palaui Island in Cagayan.  ICEC Team Lissa, Gene & Jom D. went along.
Jom A. & Bunny arrived from Aparri.
2- Crossing from Sta. Ana to Camiguin Island. We sighted several pods of dolphins and a breaching Mom with her calf near Camiguin Island.  Landed in Balatubat.
3- Sighting of 300+ dolphins (Frasers, Melonheaded) with 3 Humpback Whales. 4- Humpback Whale breaching 5 to 7 times. Big waves at Camiguin's eastern side. 5- Sighting of Mom & calf with 3 male escorts.  Alpha male lifted our boat & breached near our boat. 6- Crossing to Fuga postponed due to typhoon. 7- 2nd day of stranding due to big waves.  Courtesy visit to several Brgy officials. 8- 3rd day of stranding.  We went out but discontinued due to big waves.  Tanya had a minor accident. 9- 4th day of stranding.
10- 2nd day at Big Boat. Crossing to Fuga Island.  Sighting of dolphins & whales.  Rough seas.  Arrival at Sonny Lim's vacation house in Mabaag Island. 11- 1st day at Small Boat We went around Fuga, no sighting.  Sighting of whale from the Island using Binoculars.  Swam at Mabaag Beach.
12- 2nd Day at Small Boat. Sighting  of 4 bottlenose dolphins, then Humpback Whales.  We also sighted breaching whales but can't approach due to rough seas.  We saw Manta Rays & a Sea Snake. 13- 1st day at Big Boat. 3 Sightings of Humpback Whales, 1st good Whale Song recording. Phot shoot at where the waves break so violently.  Swam at Mabaag Beach again.
14- 2nd day at Big Boat. Sighted 4-6 dolphins, then 15-30 spotted doplhins and 30-60 Fraser dolphins near Calayan.  2 Humback Whales, 1 lobtailing, 1 flipper slapping.  Landed in Calayan. Met Tin. 15- 1st day at Small Boat. Very calm sea. Sighted 50-60 Bottlenose and Frasers dolphins.  We sighted a shark, possibly Great White because it was bigger than the small boat. 16- 2nd day at Small Boat. Perfect windless and waveless seas but very hot and humid.1 Sighting of Humback Whale blow.
17- 1st day at Big Boat. 4th day of calm seas. Sighted 3 Humpback Whales, Mom & Calf, then Bunny sighted at least 4 (probably 5) individuals.  Fr. Patrick's b-day Party. 18- Only the Small Boat went out.  Ivan, Jom & me. Sighting of Mom & Calf.  We went to Calayan's Light house for a very awesome photo session.  We went back already dark. 19Crossing to Babuyan Claro postponed.  Ivan & I jogged. We prepared for ICEC.  Everyone except A.G., Kenneth and I left for the lighthouse.  I attended mass. 20- 2nd day of stranding. ICEC only.  we went to Kapatiran compound. Visited Tin at Fr. Patrick's house. 21- We crossed to Babuyan Claro on the Big Boat.  We travelled through 15-20 ft waves. Sighting of solitary dolphin.  Landed on very rough Babuyan Claro Island. 22- We had Coconut crab for lunch. We went out after lunch and sighted spotted doplhins. 23-2nd day at Small Boat. I lost my jacket & flashlight. Crossing to Camiguin.  We were greeted by 6 Humpback Whales, and several melonheaded whales and possibly Humpbacked Dolphin.
24- 1st day on the Big Boat. Sighting of Whales very far. 252nd day at Big Boat. Calm seas, misty air.  Recorded the best Whale Song.  At least 2 individuals appeared during the recording.  Dolphins were heard and seen. 26- 1st day at Small Boat.  Lobtailing Whale.  Crossing to Sta. Ana.  Surveyed Palaui.  Jom A, Jom D., Gene & I packed and left for Aparri.  We checked-in at St. Patrick's Hotel. Kenneth & Elson went home to Manila. 27- I went with Jom A. to Tuguegarao, we ate Jollibee at Victory terminal where Jom got a Bus to Manila.  I went to Brickstone Mall, checked my e-mail, sang in a videoke, had my hair cut then bought a watch.  I went to Peņablanca to visit Callao caves. 28Went to San Carlos Cave with newly found friends (5 girls).  Had minor Injury to my left shoulder.  Had dinner with the girls. 29Went to Iguig Calvary.  Bought lunch in Chowking, met Tanya, Carl, Ali & A.G.
Third night in Callao.
30Went back to Tuguegarao. Roamed around then went to Aparri.  Slept at St. Patrick's Hotel with Jom D.
31Stayed in the Hotel the whole day.  Kenneth, Elson, Bunny & Olive came back from Manila. New flashlight.  Gene came back from Sagada.

 

APRIL 2002

SUNDAY

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THUSRDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
  1Jom A. came back from Manila.  We bought supplies and went back to Sta. Ana. 2- Surveyed Palaui & San Vicente.  Sighted Spotted Dolphins & 2 Humpback Whales. 3- Crossing to Camiguin.  Sighted Mom & calf plus escort. 4- Spotted dolphins, Humpback Whales.  Lobtailing, Flipper slapping, Logging. 2 Simultaenous spotting.  With sudden appearance of dolphins. 5- Sighting of Mom & Calf, dolphins.  Longest and best sound recording.  2 hours of Whale songs. 6- Small Boat.  Sighted Mom & Calf plus an escort.
7- Crossing from Camiguin to Fuga. Sighting of Mom & calf, then 2 individuals.  3 consecutive breaces by 2 individuals, then another 3.  We filmed the second set of breaches.  Dolphind also appeared.  Caught Mahi-Mahi or Dorado. 8- Big Boat.  Sighted 3 Humpbacks.  I felt terrible this day. 9- Crossing from Fuga to Camiguin.  Sighted Humpback Whales within Fuga, then pods of Rough-toothed dolphins appeared.  The calf breached several times and I got it on film. We encountered 100+ Short-finned Pilot whales.  I tried shooting underwater, no luck.  I swam with the Pilot whales. Sighting of melonheaded & 1 unidentified dolphin.  MGB crew came with Alan Silayan. 10- Shooting with MGB.  Sighting of 2 Humpbacks.  Interviews with the volunteers and Jom Acebes. 11- Crossing from Camiguin to Calayan.  3 unpursued sightings, 1 Mom & calf sighting. 12- ICEC with MGB team.  Duplicate the best tape. 13- Surveyed with MGB.  Interview at the beach.  MGB, Gene & Lissa saw their first breach.
14- Wok-up cold and very sick.  I requested to stay behind.  Jom a. stayed too. 15- Small Boat. Crossing from Calayan to Camiguin.  Very Big waves.  121 Hits.  I decided to go home with the ICEC Team because of my worsening injury. 16- Crossing from Camiguin to Aparri with Rosel, Manong Gil & Lissa.  We left Aparri that evening.        

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