People on Batu Bolong Beach in Canggu were taken aback yesterday afternoon by the appearance of a small whale, dead on shore.
Measuring about two meters plus in length, Tribun Bali has identified the poor thing as a Bryde’s whale.
The whale had suffered from a wound on its abdomen and was already dead before it could be rescued, reports say.
This type of whale’s roaming path is typically from Nusa Penida to Uluwatu in Bali, according to Made Badra, head of Badung regency’s Department of Animal Husbandry, Marine Life and Fisheries.
Though we’re definitely not used to seeing sights like this, it’s not totally out of the ordinary for large sea mammals or fish to wash up in South Bali, Badra added.
“Almost every year there’s some stranded fish (whale, dolphin, or shark). Last year also in Canggu, the year before in Nusa Dua, and years before that in Gianyar, and now in Canggu,” Badra told Tribun Bali.
For a better view, here’s a short video posted to Citizenside of onlookers gathering around the whale yesterday.
And here’s one of the most shared pictures on Facebook of the whale with a tactless guy who is too gleefully posing behind the corpse:
UPDATE: A photo album was posted to Facebook by Foundation Soul Surf Project chronicling the whale’s journey from the beach to a conservation and education center. A team of vets there suspect that the baby whale died after getting separated from its mother amidst strong winds and currents, but further lab tests are being conducted.
RIP little whale!
Reader Interactions