Kendrapara/Rajnagar: The decomposed carcass of a 32-foot-long Bryde’s whale was found Thursday morning at Madali mouth within the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary, officials confirmed.
Ranger of the sanctuary, Kapilendra Pradhan, said the whale may have died over a week ago in deep waters, as the carcass was highly decomposed, showing visible scars and signs of past entanglements. The Block Veterinary Officer of Rajnagar, along with forest personnel, conducted a post-mortem at the site.
Tissue and viscera samples were collected to be sent to the Zoological Survey of India at Gopalpur. These samples will help determine the whale’s species, gender, genetic diversity, population health, and pollution exposure. “Only after the analysis report will we know the exact cause of death,” said Vardaraj Gaonkar, DFO of Rajnagar Mangrove Forest and Wildlife Division.
Also Read: Gahirmatha: Delayed arrival of Olive Ridleys raises concern
However, forest officials suspect that the whale might have been struck by ships or fishing vessels in deep waters before its carcass drifted ashore. Bryde’s whales, also known as tropical whales, are among the least understood baleen whale species.
They prefer waters above 16°C and are found in both near-shore and open seas between latitudes 40° South and 40° North. Historically, they have often been mistaken for Sei whales, which are larger and inhabit temperate and subpolar regions. This is not the first instance of Bryde’s whale carcasses washing ashore in the region.
In late February, a 30-footlong baleen whale was found at Sandhkuda beach along the Paradip coast. Similarly, a 25-foot Bryde’s whale carcass was recovered in late January at the Devi River mouth inside Bhitarkanika National Park.