Residents of Sitio Wawa in Barangay 1, Sta. Cruz town, Occidental Mindoro discovered a suspected beaked whale washed ashore along the coastline Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025.

LGU personnel are examining the whale to determine the cause of the stranding, according to social media posts.

Photos shared online by Santa Cruz Vice Mayor Mark Villaluna Galsim showed the large marine mammal on the shoreline.

One ABS-CBN News post described the animal as a pregnant female.

Beaked whales belong to the family Ziphiidae and are among the least-known large mammals because they inhabit deep offshore waters and rarely approach coastlines.

Most species have elongated beaks, feed primarily on squid in deep dives that can exceed 1,000 meters, and are seldom seen alive.

Strandings, especially of pregnant females, are considered rare events in the Philippines.

photos courtesy of MENRO Sta. Cruz, Occidental Mindoro