A rare pygmy killer whale was found dead on the coast of Odisha’s Bhadrak district near the Kasia fishing jetty on Saturday morning, according to forest officials.
🔬 Investigation Underway
The whale’s carcass was examined by a team of veterinary and marine officials to determine the cause of death.
- Size and Weight: The mammal was estimated to be 15 ft in length with a girth of nearly 6 ft, and weighed between 800-1,000 kg.
- Suspected Cause: Basudevpur Forest Range Officer Atulya Kumar Mohanty noted that the species typically inhabits deep waters and is rarely seen near the coast. He speculated that the animal “may have suffered injuries from a boat or a trawler,” which could have caused it to drift toward the shore.
- Necropsy: A necropsy was conducted by the Block Veterinary Officer and Marine Fisheries Extension Officer at the Forest Department’s office, and tissue and blood samples were collected for further analysis. An investigation has been launched to ascertain the exact cause of death.
🐬 About the Pygmy Killer Whale
Despite its name, the pygmy killer whale ($Feresa$ $attenuata$) is a species of oceanic dolphin.
- Habitat: They are typically found in deep, tropical and subtropical waters worldwide.
- Distinguishing Features: The species is known for its white lips and a dark eyepatch.
- Threats: Threats to these animals, which are rarely encountered in the wild, often include entanglement in fishing gear, vessel strikes, and ocean noise.
A large crowd of people gathered on the beach to witness the unusual sighting of the deep-sea mammal.