Last week, the carcasses of two sperm whales reported stranded in different locations in Bali: one is near Mertasari Beach, and another on Mengiat Beach.
The Denpasar Coastal and Marine Resources Management Agency (BPSPL) found a second carcass with its teeth missing, the discovery followed by a statement from the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries highlighting that whales are a protected species in the country.
“Unfortunately, there are parties who are not responsible for the loss of teeth of this stranded whale,” said Head of the Denpasar Coastal and Marine Resources Management Agency (BPSPL), Permana Yudiarso. The second carcass, about 13 meters long, was already rotten at the time. BPSPL officers arrived at the location with torn wounds around his stomach, tail, and anus.
Meanwhile, the first carcass was reportedly seen near Mertasari Beach, although authorities were unable to find it. However, they believe that there are two different sperm whales because the first one is about 10 meters long.
At the time of publication, authorities were still investigating multiple incidents of stranded sperm whales in southern Bali.
Sperm whales are listed as a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
