Dead whales on Songkhla beaches
The remains of two young Omura whales were separately found on Songkhla’s beaches. They were probably from the same herd.
On Thursday, Pak Tae Ra villagers in Ranote district alerted a regional maritime research centre that a big whale was found on the beach.
The centre’s chief Suthep Juela-ong found the remains of an Omura whale, weighing 800-1,000kg and 5.65 metres long. It was estimated that the whale has been dead for at least two weeks, Suthep said.
The centre’s officials will collect tissue samples and check the cause of death, he said, adding that the preliminary test indicated that it probably died from illness as no outer injuries were found on the body.
Its remains would be buried after all tissues were collected, he said.
Meanwhile another dead Omura whale was found on Chalathat beach in Songkhla province on Wednesday.
It was about 5.95 metres long and died at least two weeks ago.
The whales were possibly from the same herd. Tissue samples would also be collected. Both whales are estimated to be about one-year-old.
A few days ago a three-month-old Omura whale was found dead on a beach in Chumphon province.
It is thought to have died from an infection after getting separated from its mother.