Rajnagar (Kendrapara): Carcass of a giant Blue Whale was found washed ashore near Madali river mouth inside the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary on Thursday, triggering concern among forest officials and marine experts.
According to sources, forest staff detected the decomposed whale early in the morning and promptly alerted the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO). A team led by Forest Range Officer Kapilendra Pradhan and Veterinary Officer Dr. Prakash Kumar Jena reached the remote site by boat to assess the situation.
Preliminary examination revealed that the whale was a female, estimated to be around 4–5 years old. Officials said the animal had likely died in the sea nearly 12 to 15 days ago, as nearly half of the carcass had already decomposed. The body is reportedly emitting a strong odour, making close inspection difficult.
Experts suspect that strong winds and tidal currents carried the carcass ashore. While the exact cause of death is yet to be ascertained, officials indicated that a possible collision with a fishing trawler or other unknown factors could be responsible.
Notably, similar incidents have been reported in the past. About five years ago, two large whales had washed ashore near Chinchiri river mouth and Kantia Khai in the same region. The Gahirmatha coast is considered one of the important marine habitats, known for sightings of blue whales and other marine species.
Further investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of death.
