Perhaps, the number of stranded pilot whales will continue to increaseKupang, East Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA) - The lifeless body of another pilot whale was spotted on Liebore Beach, Sabu Raijua, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), in close heels to the 11 pilot whales found on Lie Jaka Beach, Sabu Rijua, July 30.
Sabu Raijua Resort Police Chief Adjunct Senior Commissioner (AKBP) Jack Siubelan stated here on Saturday that Rglius Djek, a local resident of Ledeunu, had found the dead pilot whale.
"It was found in a dead state, with wounds all over its body. We do not know the cause of the injuries," he remarked.
Police officers and locals buried the body of the dead whale at a location in proximity to where it was found for the first time, he stated.
Ikram Sangadji, the head of Kupang's National Water Conservation Area (BKKPN), surmised that the whale found recently was the one rescued by the local people on Lie Jaka Beach earlier.
"It is possible that this dead pilot whale was the one that had been earlier rescued and released by local people. It might have got stranded again," he stated.
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Meanwhile, a pod of 11 short-finned pilot whales had washed up on the Lie Jaka Beach in on Thursday.
"Based on visual observation, they are pilot whales," Ikram Sangadji stated here on Thursday.
However, only one of the beached whales survived and could be saved by the locals, while 10 others died. The whales measured between two and seven meters in length.
Sangadji pointed out that the pilot whales lived in groups, so the possibility remained high of spotting more incidents of beachings.
"Perhaps, the number of stranded pilot whales will continue to increase," he stated.
Sangadji explained that the pilot whales innately followed the sea currents that carried along the planktons to the coastal areas.
"When the sea waters receded, it became increasingly difficult for them to return to the deeper waters. Many of them suffered serious wounds after being scraped by corals while attempting to swim back to the sea," he added.
In October 2019, some 17 pilot whales were stranded on Sabu Raijua Island Beach of which nine were rescued and released back into the seas.
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Translator: Kornelis Kaha, Fardah
Editor: Gusti Nur Cahya Aryani
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