Bhubaneswar: In a rare sight along the Paradip coast, the carcass of a 30-foot-long baleen whale washed ashore at Sandhkuda Beach under the Kujang forest range in Jagatsinghpur district on Tuesday, creating a buzz among locals.
Fishermen first spotted the massive mammal while returning from the sea with their daily catch. “We saw something huge floating near the shore and immediately informed the villagers,” said one of the fishermen. Soon after, a crowd gathered to catch a glimpse of the giant whale.
Forest authorities were alerted and rushed to the site. Kujang Forest Ranger Sanjay Pradhan said the whale was in an advanced state of decomposition, with visible scars and signs of previous entanglements.
“Such entanglements are common among baleen whales due to their feeding patterns. There is also a possibility that the whale was struck by ships or fishing vessels before drifting to the coast,” he added.
A team of veterinary doctors collected viscera samples from the carcass and sent them to Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, for further examination. Assistant Conservator of Forests Gagan Bihari Mallick said, “The exact cause of death will be known only after the laboratory report is received.”
Forest personnel have been deployed to guard the carcass, while the authorities have urged locals to maintain a safe distance for health and safety reasons.
