Dwarf sperm whale
Dwarf sperm whale
The rarely-sighted dwarf sperm whale, stranded at Palolem beach recently, died due to shock caused by external injury, a postmortem examination has revealed.

The distressed mammal surfaced a few times on the beach on March 26, despite being pushed into the sea by rescuers, but washed ashore dead after midnight amid traumatic conditions. Discerning tourists and others alleged that the struggling animal was touched and pulled by the unruly crowd with bare hands, contrary to a set protocol to handle these marine mammals.

The rare sighting, the first recorded on Goa's shoreline, of this barely nine feet-long female mammal, as compared to other huge whale species, drew hordes of tourists and others.

Speculation was rife in some quarters that plastic possibly embedded in its entrails may have proved fatal. There have been a few cases of whales dying of plastic ingestion.

The dwarf sperm whale that washed ashore in Palolem on March 23 is the third confirmed case on India’s western coast.
The dwarf sperm whale that washed ashore in Palolem on March 23 is the third confirmed case on India’s western coast.

"We learnt from an expert on dwarf sperm whales that plastic ingestion is often the cause of death, as it inhibits proper feeding," Abhishek Jamalabad, an independent marine biologist associated with the Karwar-based Terra Marine Research Institute, said.

But, a report of the postmortem examination conducted by Dr Ransley Caldeira, veterinary officer of the animal husbandry and veterinary services, Canacona, that was submitted to the forest department stated, "The dwarf sperm whale suffered external injury, leading to shock and death."

Injury was caused by a sharp object, which had pierced into its skin near the tail. A gash and a few lacerations could be observed on the mammal, as it thrashed in shallow water.

The report stated that there was no damage to internal organs nor was any plastic found in its entrails.

But, researchers are not sure if injury alone could have proved fatal and aver that it could be due to a compounded effect. "To determine the cause of death might not be possible at all times, especially in case of marine mammals, as our knowledge regarding them is very limited in the first place," says Ketki Jog, an independent researcher of the Malwan-based Konkan cetacean research team.

The carcass was buried after the autopsy and no part of the viscera was preserved for further examination.

Source:TNN