11-12-2024 (JAKARTA) A massive whale that had been stranded in Labuan Kelambu Bay has successfully made its way back to open waters, officials confirmed Wednesday. The marine mammal, measuring approximately 15 metres in length, had been trapped in shallow waters since Sunday in the coastal area of Sambinasi Tengah Village.
Arief Mahmud, Head of the Natural Resources Conservation Centre (BBKSDA) in East Nusa Tenggara, reported that surveillance teams could no longer spot the whale in the bay where it had been stranded. “Our monitoring teams have confirmed the whale’s departure from the previous location,” Mahmud stated.
The successful rescue operation, spanning three days, involved a coordinated effort between BBKSDA officers, local police, military personnel, government officials, and fishermen from the surrounding community. Two fishing vessels were deployed to guide the distressed creature towards deeper waters.
Initial veterinary examinations conducted by the Ngada District Animal Husbandry Service revealed approximately 30 circular wounds of uniform size along the whale’s dorsal region. Despite these injuries, the creature displayed normal vital signs, with regular breathing intervals of 5-9 minutes. Whilst its right fin and tail showed good mobility, the left fin appeared to be paralysed.
The species of the whale remains unidentified, but authorities have proposed several potential causes for the stranding. “Navigation disruption, illness or injury, ship sonar interference, and deteriorating water quality due to marine pollution are all possible factors that could have led to this incident,” Mahmud explained.
