It was a bright sunny day on July 27 at Pathameghavaram village in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh. Fishermen had just returned from sea when they noticed something massive glistening on the shore. On closer look, they found that it was a huge marine creature, almost the size of four boats put together, washed ashore dead. Word spread like wild fire and soon the beach was teeming with people who gathered to take a look at the peculiar species. Videos and images went viral on social media with many claiming it to be a blue whale.
A day later, Visakhapatnam-based East Coast Conservation Team (ECCT) along with veterinarians and officials of AP Forest Department identified the species as a Bryde’s whale, 10.06 metres in length and weighing about five tonnes. The team collected morphometric data on the marine animal to learn of any abnormality. According to the officials, this is said to be the first such record of a Bryde’s whale on the coast of Andhra Pradesh. A necropsy done on the specimen by Visakhapatnam zoo veterinarian Phaneendra Andra revealed an empty stomach and intestines that suggest death by starvation. The report also brought to light several marks of stress from ropes on the body, indicating entanglement in ropes from a ghost net or other types of nets.
The incident has baffled marine biologists and researchers as beaching of whales is rare in this part of the coast. “It was a peculiar and sad sight. The marine animal looked thinner than its usual size. It was a sub-adult male, expected to be around eight to 10 years of age,” says Dr Phaneendra, adding that normally, sub-adult whales remain in pods.
