Duncan Murrell - A Whale of a Time

Dolphin and whale watching has become one of the most popular tourist attraction in Puerto Princesa, in addition to swimming with whale sharks. They can usually be found a short distance from the city, especially the most common, resident and highly entertaining spinner dolphins, or as they are called locally – lumba-lumba, that are always prepared to approach the dolphin watching boats to thrill the excited passengers. Other species of dolphins and whales that can be seen are bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), pantropical spotted dolphins (Stenella attenuata), Risso’s dolphins (Grampus griseus), Fraser’s dolphins (Lagenodelphis hosei), short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) and Bryde’s whales (Balaenoptera brydei). Malampaya Sound at the northwest of Palawan is another good area where dolphins can be seen, especially bottle-nosed dolphins and Risso’s dolphins, and rare Irrawady dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris) in the inner sound. Another population of Irrawady dolphins, or as they are called locally – lampasut, has been recently discovered off Quezon on the west coast. At least 20 individuals were sighted at one time, which is a relatively large pod for this rare species, where groups of fewer than six individuals are most common. The Irrawady dolphin is listed by the IUCN as critically endangered.
Local fishermen around Puerto Princesa are very much involved with protecting the dolphins and promoting dolphin watching as volunteer wardens and spotters, and collecting any potentially harmful garbage from the areas frequented by dolphins.