35 Feet Bryde's whale washed to Juhu beach Mumbai

35 Feet Bryde's whale washes ashore on Juhu beach Mumbai
Fri, 29 Jan 2016

The recent incident of beaching of dead dolphins and whales continues as a Bryde's Whale, washes ashore on to the Juhu beach in Mumbai yesterday night around 9pm. According to forest officials, the whale measured around 35 - 40 feet, approximately weighing around three to four tonnes.

Assistant Conservator of Forest (Mangroves Protection Cell) Makrand Ghodke said "From initial examination, the whale seems to have died a day or two back. It bloated and was then carried in by the tide to the beach. internal decomposition of the organs has already started, and the outer skin of the whale, around the tail and stomach had started to peel off. We will deflate the carcass on the beach itself, otherwise it could explode"

Ghodke added that this was the second biggest whale to have beached on the western coastline following the washing ashore of the Giant Blue Whale at Alibaugh, last year.

The carcass has no evident signs of injuries. The team extracted tissue samples for forensic analysis at a lab in Kalina.

There are four veterinarians who will perform the autopsy at the spot on Juhu beach, and then move the carcass to the forest department’s conservatory in Airoli.

Officials plan to preserve the skeletal structure of this whale at the information centre in Airoli of Navi Mumbai.

Seems like natural death. Good to learn that India is planning to preserve the skeletal remains. Thanks for sharing