The Institute of Environmental Science & Meteorology’s Marine Mammal Research and Conservation Laboratory conducted a Cetacean Pathology Training and Workshop on the 23rd and 24th of June 2025, This workshop is a pre-conference event of the Veterinary Practitioners Association Of The Philippines (VPAP) in collaboration with the Philippine Marine Mammal Stranding Network (PMMSN).

A deep dive into the “Pathogenesis of Common Diseases in Stranded Dolphins” gave an insightful experience towards anatomy, health assessment, decision making, histopathology, radiography, age estimation, acoustic trauma, disease surveillance, pharmacology, toxicology, microbiology and necropsy procedures which opened much needed conversations about emerging marine threats and their repercussions to One Health.

The workshop participants consisted of veterinary practitioners (academe and LGU), veterinary students, interns, MS and PhD candidates, field volunteers, and professor scientists coming from different backgrounds and regions of the Philippines who are all keen towards collaboration for the protection and conservation of marine mammals. The workshop is a testament that there exists people who are taking up arms against dynamite fishing, poaching, pollution, and diseases–people who are drawn to commit
themselves in protecting the environment and their sentinels.

Every stranding tells a story–and with the right tools and knowledge, we can help write a better future for the sentinels of our oceans.