It is not only humans who are laid to rest in cemeteries. In Bicol, whales and dolphins also have a special resting place. In Barangay Fabrica, Bula, Camarines Sur, inside the 15-hectare compound of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) regional office, a unique cemetery for marine mammals can be found. 

The Philippines’ first cetacean cemetery was established in 2013 by the Fisheries Regional Emergency Stranding Response Team (FIRST), a group conducting emergency rescue operations and post-mortem examinations on the stranding marine animals. 

Fourteen whales and dolphins species are buried at the cemetery, among them are Risso’s dolphin, spinner dolphin, Fraser’s dolphin, dwarf sperm whale, Bryde’s whale, melon-headed whale, and striped dolphin. These marine animals were killed due to human activities, such as blast fishing, solid waste ingestion, entanglement, and boat strike.

According to BFAR Bicol, the region is considered a hotspot for marine mammals because its archipelagic location serves as a migratory route and habitat for various species of cetaceans. Hence, the bureau emphasized that continuous information, education, and advocacy initiatives are vital to ensure the protection of these species.

BFAR further noted that the cemetery is not merely a burial site for cetaceans, but the project also aims to raise public awareness about the importance of marine mammals and to encourage everyone to protect these species from human activities that threaten their survival.