Animal experts are preparing to examine the carcass of a giant fin whale at the port of Calais, northern France.
According to the conservation organization CMNF, the creature was discovered stranded on the shores of Calais on the afternoon of November 6. It measured up to 19 meters in length, weighed around 15 tons, and was a 30-year-old female.
The fin whale carcass washed up at the port of Calais last weekend. (Photo: AFP).
“The whale was still alive when it arrived at the port. It seemed to be sick and had separated from its pod,” said CMNF head Jacky Karpouzopoulos to AFP. This is a rare phenomenon in the area.
Due to its weakened condition and injuries caused by rocks while stranded, the animal died before rescue efforts could be initiated. In a statement yesterday, authorities announced that they would relocate the whale carcass to another area for examination on November 9, after which it would be disposed of for cremation.
The deceased fin whale with several severe injuries on its body. (Photo: AFP)
The fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) is the second-largest mammal on Earth, following the blue whale. They can grow up to 24 meters in length in the Northern Hemisphere and 27 meters in the Southern Hemisphere.
This species primarily feeds on small fish, squid, and crustaceans. An adult can consume up to two tons of food each day.
Although distributed across nearly all oceans worldwide, fin whales are currently listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature due to habitat pollution and overfishing.
