50 feet long whale carcass spotted near Cox’s Bazar beach

A large dead whale was seen floating in the sea near Himchari on Cox's Bazar-Teknaf Marine Drive road today.

The Bryde's whale was first seen one kilometre away from the sea beach in the morning, reports our local correspondent quoting Md Masum Billah, executive magistrate in charge Cox's Bazar district administration's tourism cell.

The floating carcass is at least 50 feet long and was spreading foul smell in the area, the executive magistrate said, adding that it is believed to have died at least a week ago.

Locals and fishermen saw the whale floating in the morning and informed the administration, forest department, and police.

"Upon receiving the information, some workers of the district administration went near the whale on a speedboat. The carcass has a fishing net wrapped around it. The cause of the whale's death is yet to be ascertained," Masum added.

Director General of Bangladesh Institute of Maritime Research and Development Syed Mohammad Belal Haider said, a team of Bangladesh Institute of Maritime Research and Development took pictures and videos of the whale with drones after receiving information.

After reviewing the pictures, it was determined that it is a Bryde's whale, the DG said.

"There are injury marks on the whale's head. It is caught in a huge fishing net and may have died of serious injuries or some other cause," he added.

Due to tides, the carcass is constantly moving. It will be possible to know the exact cause of its death after post-mortem once it washes ashore, he said.