Latest news with #'swhale
Express Tribune
16-06-2025
- Science
- Express Tribune
Blue whale found dead in Gwatar Bay
A blue whale measuring about 35 feet long was recorded dead at a remote area in Gwatar Bay between Pakistan and Iran on Monday. A local fisherman, Ahmad Baloch, who was fishing in the area, reported the incident of a dead whale floating near Kuntani, Balochistan. It is likely that the whale may have died a few days back in the open seawaters between Pakistan and Iran, and it drifted towards the Gwatar Bay under the influence of a rough sea and strong currents, a news release said. Although the cause of the death is not ascertained so far, it seems the animal might have gotten entangled in gillnets that are used for catching fish in the coastal and offshore waters in the area. Blue whale, scientifically called Balaenoptera musculus, is one of three baleen whales reported from Pakistani waters. The other two whales are the Bryde's whale and the Arabian humpback whale. There are four subspecies of blue whales, of which two include the pygmy blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda) and the Indian Ocean blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus indica) found in the Northern Indian Ocean. Considering its small size, this dead blue whale sighted at Kuntani may be a pygmy blue whale. Muhammad Moazzam Khan, Technical Advisor, WWF-Pakistan, expressed concerns over the mortality of the blue whale and termed it sad news for the conservation community around the world. He shared that the blue whale is known to be distributed in tropical and subtropical waters of the Indian Ocean. Khan emphasized that although this whale is categorized as an endangered species, urgent steps are required for its conservation. Now all cetaceans, including whales and dolphins, are protected under the wildlife and fisheries legislations of Sindh and Balochistan.
Observer
22-04-2025
- Science
- Observer
Bryde's whale spotted in Musandam
The Environment Authority (EA) has spotted a Bryde's whale in Musandam Governorate since the launch of the Marine Mammal Species Survey Project, which began in 2023 and continued over five different phases. Aida bint Khalaf al Jabri, project leader, said that this monitoring is an important step in understanding the spread of rare or previously undocumented marine species in Musandam Governorate, underscoring the importance of continuing environmental surveys to protect biodiversity in the Sultanate of Oman. She added that the project represents a pioneering initiative that links fieldwork and scientific research, and contributes to building a national database that enhances the Sultanate of Oman's efforts to protect marine organisms and sustain them for future generations. Bryde's whales are a medium-sized species of whale, characterized by a long, streamlined body, a blue-gray color, and three prominent protrusions on top of their heads that distinguish them from other whales. This whale is known for its stealthy behavior and rapid movements, as it prefers warm waters and feeds on small fish and plankton using the "surge and swallow" method. It is often seen alone or in small groups. Bryde's whale or the Bryde's whale complex, putatively comprises three species of rorqual and maybe four. The complex means the number and classification remain unclear because of a lack of definitive information and research. The common Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera brydei, Olsen, 1913) is a larger form that occurs worldwide in warm temperate and tropical waters.
