Dwarf sperm whale stranded, found with fetus and plastic waste in stomach
The remains of a “pygmy sperm whale” were found washed ashore at Bang Tao Beach. In its stomach were a whale calf and marine debris, such as plastic bags and rope.
On September 2, 2024, lifeguards at Surin Bangtao Beach, Cherngtalay Subdistrict, Thalang District, Phuket Province, were notified by a good citizen that a dolphin had died on the beach. The lifeguards went to inspect the scene before moving the remains and coordinating with the Upper Andaman Marine and Coastal Resources Research Center.
When the Andaman Sea and Coastal Resources Research Center came to inspect, they found that it was a fully grown female Dwarf Sperm Whale with a thin body and external wounds from being stranded. They also found marine debris such as plastic bags and rope in the esophagus and stomach. But what was even more heartbreaking was that in the reproductive system of this whale, a male calf was found, which was close to giving birth.
From the examination, it was concluded that the mother whale was weak and had eaten marine debris, which made her unable to eat normally, causing her to become sick and drown.
Image from: Thon Thamrongnawasawat
Prof. Dr. Thon Thamrongnawasawat, a marine ecology expert and deputy dean of the Faculty of Fisheries at Kasetsart University, posted a picture of a pygmy sperm whale that was about to become a mother but died because of marine debris along with a whale fin in its stomach, on his Facebook page Thon Thamrongnawasawat, with the following message: “The sky is gloomy, the sea is sad. A mother pygmy sperm whale died on the coast of Phuket. Her stomach was full of plastic bags.
A calf was also found near birth, but she was not born because the mother whale ate the garbage and died. More than 80% of marine garbage flows down from the land, especially during the rainy season when there is flooding. A lot of garbage is washed away from all directions before it accumulates in the sea and stays there for a long time.”
And also mentioned the problem of marine waste in Thailand in this post that “Marine waste in Thailand has not decreased at all. While Thailand’s plastic waste management plan is still circling in the deep abyss. Mother whales and baby whales will still die. Parent turtles will die, baby turtles will not be born. This kind of event is happening again and again and again. We must rely on our responsibility. From the pity that we do not want to see this kind of image and the pity for ourselves and our children when the garbage and microplastics overflow the sea.”
Many marine animals have died because of marine waste that is caused by humans. How many lives and families have died and not been able to live together? Every marine animal has a life and a family, just like humans. It’s time for all of us to help solve this marine waste problem. If we don’t help solve the problem today, in the near future we won’t be able to see beautiful creatures and preserve the marine ecosystem again.
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