20 Foot Dead Baby Whale Found in Bermuda
On Monday March 15, a dead baby sperm whale was discovered in Bermuda waters. Discovered at sea, the whale was towed into the public dock in Ely’s Harbour, Somerset where various experts convened to examine it.
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Baby sperm whale in Bermuda waters. Photo by Andrew Stevenson
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The team including researcher Andrew Stevenson, and staff from the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo including Dr Ian Walker, Dr Robbie Smith, Barbara Outerbridge and Patrick Talbot. They took the whale’s measurements and recorded various other data. In order to ascertain the cause of death, a necropsy [autopsy] was intended, however circumstances prohibited it at the time.
The whale is thought to have been dead for a couple of weeks prior to being discovered. There were several shark bites on the animal, which Mr. Stevenson says were probably inflicted by tiger sharks after the whale had died.
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Andrew Stevenson with the whale. Photo by Camille Stringer
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Measuring the whale determined that it was almost 20 feet long. Newborn sperm whales are an average of 13 feet long, with fully grown sperm whales able to reach lengths of over 65 feet.
Mr Stevenson said that he found it immensely sad seeing a young sperm whale like that dead, from no apparent causes. He went on to explain that had the whale survived, its expected life span would be sixty years or more.
Primary school students at Port Royal School travel to Ely’s Harbour with their teachers Ms Ebbin and Ms Henry to see the dead whale. Video below:
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Sperm whales are listed as an endangered species by the United States National Marine Fisheries Service.
Andrew Stevenson is the lead researcher behind the documentary “Where the Whales Sing”. The film debuted to a sold out audience at the Bermuda International Film Festival on March 11. Copies of the finished DVD of “Where the Whales Sing” will be given to all schools and public libraries in Bermuda.
For more photos and further information see WhalesBermuda.com
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Category: All, Environment
