On April 6th, Indonesian animal experts are preparing to examine the body of an 18-meter-long sperm whale that washed ashore on a beach in Bali.
“We are still investigating the cause of death. We want a scientific explanation to determine whether it was due to pollution or plastic,” said local maritime and fisheries official Permana Yudiarso, as reported by AFP.
Sperm whale on the beach in Klungkung on April 5. (Photo: Screengrab).
The sperm whale, believed to weigh several tons, washed ashore on the eastern side of Bali on April 5. Locals and officials attempted to push it back into the sea.
However, after swimming away, the whale became stranded again just a few hours later on another beach and died on the shore. The whale showed no signs of external injuries.
Veterinarians and forensic experts have arrived at the scene to investigate the cause of death of the sperm whale. The whale’s body will be buried in the coming days.
“Today we will perform an autopsy. After that, we will bring in an excavator to bury the body nearby,” Mr. Yudiarso stated.
The police have cordoned off the beach in Klungkung, Bali, to prevent theft of the whale’s meat or body parts.
Mr. Yudiarso noted that sperm whales often come closer to shore when they are sick or close to death.
Sperm whales, the largest predatory species in the world, are classified as “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature due to the risk of extinction.
In 2018, a sperm whale was found dead in Indonesia with over 100 plastic cups and 25 plastic bags in its stomach, raising concerns about the issue of marine debris in this Southeast Asian archipelago.
