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    03 August 2012| last updated at 06:18PM

    Stranded baleen whale died due to dysfunctional senses



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    KOTA KINABALU: The 10-tonne whale, which was stranded for more than 12 hours on Sungai Sitompok beach in Kuala Penyu near here, died yesterday believed to be due to dysfunctional senses.

     

    Kuala Penyu district fisheries officer Julin Bagang said the 17-metre long Baleen whale was believed to be distressed when it was separated from its group outside its natural habitat. 
     
    "From my observation, the whale's senses were dysfunctional and the condition affected its body systems," he told Bernama when contacted here today.
     
    The whale was found stranded on the beach by a worker at Taman Pulau Tiga at about 9am yesterday. The mammal, however, died at 8pm. 
     
    Julin said they tried to rescue the mammal, including by pumping seawater over the whale with the cooperation from the Fire and Rescue Department, but without success. 
     
    "We just don't have the expertise and skills to rescue the whale," he said.
     
    Julin said a contractor had been appointed to remove the carcass from the beach and bury it in a special location in Kuala Penyu. 
     
    The works, which began at 2pm, ended three hours later. -- BERNAMA
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