Whale washes ashore A.P. coast

Visakhapatnam

A giant whale was found washed ashore near the coastal village of Peddathinarla in Nakkapalli mandal of Anakapalli district. The incident occurred on Monday night, but came to light on Tuesday.

Speaking to The Hindu, Joe K. Kizhakudan, head of the Visakhapatnam branch of the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), said that after examining videos and photos of the carcass, the whale is a baleen whale (𝐵𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑒𝑛𝑜𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑎 𝑚𝑢𝑠𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑢𝑠) or a Bryde’s whale (𝐵𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑒𝑛𝑜𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑎 𝑒𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑖), part of the Baleen family.

Arjilli Dasu, general secretary of the Federation of Indian Fisher Organisations said: “According to information from locals, the whale weighs about 40 tonnes and is nearly 100 feet long. The main reason for these whales dying along the coast is the presence of high toxic chemicals in the sea. About 40 years ago, whales, dolphins and turtles during the winter were seen by beachgoers and fishermen. But today, the marine ecosystem along the coasts in some districts, including Anakapalli, has deteriorated due to pollutants from coastal-based industries.”

According to marine researchers baleen whales and humpback whales are found in the Bay of Bengal, while blue whales also roam the area. Strandings, of these large filter-feeders, along the Odisha and Andhra coast have been recorded after the monsoon and between November and February when the food supply increases.

Earlier, a small baleen whale washed ashore in Andhra Pradesh in 2023.

Experts believe that stranding incidents are sometimes linked to factors such as climate change, which alters the availability of fish, increased ship traffic that has led to increased vessel strikes and pollution. But the exact cause of death is often unknown.

A marine researcher said: “Conservation efforts for whales are crucial due to growing threats such as pollution and vessel strikes.”