40-ft whale washes ashore in two parts at Juhu and Madh in Mumbai

MUMBAI CITY NEWS: Researchers from the Konkan Cetacean Research Team said it was most likely a Bryde’s whale

Two parts of a 40-foot decomposed carcass of a whale washed ashore at two beaches — one at Juhu (20 feet) and the remaining 16 feet at Madh beach — on Sunday morning. This is the first such case in Mumbai this year.

The 16-foot part of the Bryde’s whale carcass found at Madh beach. (HT)

Researchers from the Konkan Cetacean Research Team (KCRT) said the whale was most likely a Bryde’s whale, most commonly found baleen whale along the Indian coast. They have a sharp rostrum and variable falcate dorsal fins. They can grow up to 50 feet.

State forest officials and KCRT confirmed that the two parts were of the same whale. While the head and throat of the whale had washed ashore near Retreat Hotel at Madh beach, the remaining body and the tail were found near Novotel Hotel, Juhu.

The 20-foot portion that washed ashore Juhu beach on Sunday.

This was the 14th case of dead marine animal carcass washing ashore Mumbai’s beaches. Between 2015 and 2017, 74 carcasses have washed ashore along the city’s coastline. “Local residents informed us about half a carcass on Sunday morning and we immediately reached the spot. After researchers from KCRT collected tissue samples from the mammal’s body, we buried the mammal at one end of Juhu beach,” said Makarand Ghodke, assistant conservator of forest, state mangrove cell.

Ghodke added that the forest department was informed about it only by late Sunday evening. “Our team will be visiting the site on Monday morning to ensure that the carcass is buried, tissue samples are collected and a full report regarding the incident filed,” he said.

Researchers said that the whale might have died a few weeks ago. “While nothing can be said conclusively, it is clear that the whale could have died at least two weeks ago but not more than a month ago. The decomposition process also might have led to the splitting of the carcass,” said Mihir Sule, member, KCRT. “Small portions of the whale (approximately 4-feet) could have fallen at sea when the body split.”