This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. V, No. 50, January 29-February 4, 2006
Rare Marine Mammal Dies in Waters Contaminated by
Mine Tailings The
recent fish kill and death of the dugong, a rare marine mammal, in
Rapu-Rapu Island validate the toxic effects of cyanide and other heavy metals
found in mine tailings that spilled from the mines of Lafayette Mining.
By GERRY ALBERT
CORPUZ A pregnant dugong
(dugong dugon) or baboy daga (pig rat), a rare marine mammal, was
found dead morning of Jan. 25 at Sitio Gogon, Brarangay Poblacion, Rapu-rapu,
Albay. The area is affected by the spill of toxic tailings from mines operated
by Australian owned Lafayette Mining Inc. Defend Patrimony asserted
that the cyanide spill and the voluminous toxic mine tailings that have been
dumped in Rapu-Rapu island has caused the contamination of the sea grass and
poisoned sea life including the dugong. Dugong is a sea mammal that
naturally feeds on sea grasses found in shallow waters of coastal areas. © 2006 Bulatlat
■
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Bulatlat
The anti-mining alliance groups Defend Patrimony and Kalikasan
(Nature)-People's Network for the Environment (KPNE) said local fisherfolk found
the dugong. They suspected the cause of the dugong's death was
exposure to toxic chemicals that contaminated the seawaters of Rapu-Rapu Island.
The island is part of Legazpi, Albay, 550 kms. from Manila.
Clemente Bautista, Kalikasan national coordinator, said the dugong is a
large marine mammal belonging to a group of animals known as Sirenians. It is a
grey brown bulbous animal with a flattened fluked tail, like that of a whale,
has no dorsal fins, with paddle like flippers and a distinctive head shape.
"It is classified as a vulnerable species by the Union for the Conservation of
Nature (IUCN) and protected by the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species (CITES). In the Philippines, dugong is considered as
endangered animal," the environmental activist said.
Bautista said Fr. Felino Bugauisan, local assistant parish priest and
spokesperson of Sagip Isla (Save the Island), a local movement in the island
calling for the closure of Polymetallic Mining Project of Lafayette Mining, told
him during a phone conversation last week that it was the first time Rapu-Rapu
residents found a dead dugong in the island.
"The local priest told us that prior to the Lafayette mine spills, they did not
experience any fish kill and no dugong was found dying in the sea. The
recent fish kill and the death of the dugong validate the toxic effects
of the cyanide and other heavy metals found in mine tailings that spilled from
the mines of Lafayette Mining on Oct. 11 and Nov. 1 2005," Bautista said.
"The threat of contamination still lingers in the island, contrary to the claims
of Lafayette Mining and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Both claimed that the incident has been sufficiently addressed and its effects
have been contained," Bautista said.
On the average, a dugong eats 25 kilos of sea grass a day. The presence
of toxic heavy metals such as mercury, lead and arsenic in their food is fatal
to the dugong.
Aside from the dugong, whale sharks, commonly known as butanding
are also found in Rapu-Rapu Island. The people and local government of Sorsogon
also opposes the large-scale mining project because it is affecting the
multimillion whale watching tourism in the province. Rapu-Rapu Island and Donsol,
Sorsogon is the natural sanctuary of butanding and dugong,
according to a report e-mailed by Defend Patrimony and Kalikasan to Bulatlat.
Until now, the residents and fishers of Rapu-Rapu Island are reeling from the
effects of the spill of mine tailings. “The volume of fish catch drastically
decreased and people from other places are afraid to buy
our catch for fear of toxic poisoning,” according to Sagip Isla.
Kalikasan and Defend Patrimony said that the cyanide spill and the consequent
fish kill and
death of the dugong in the Island only shows why the DENR can not be
trusted with the protection of the people's welfare and the environment. They
said these incidents also affirm that there is no such thing as an
environmental-friendly mining operation under the mining revitalization program
of the Arroyo administration.
Sagip Isla and Defend Patrimony reiterate their demand for the closure of the
Lafayette mining operation in the island. On Monday, January 30, they will join
the presentation of results of the laboratory analysis of local samples drawn
from waters surrounding the island by an Independent Investigative Mission led
by the Center for Environmental Concerns (CEC). Bulatlat