Bhadrak: A rare pygmy killer whale was washed ashore the coastline of Bhadrak district in Odisha.
The carcass was spotted on Saturday morning near Kasia fishing jetty, drawing crowds of curious locals to the beach to catch a glimpse of the rare creature typically found only in tropical and subtropical waters.
According to Basudevpur Forest Range Officer Atulya Kumar Mohanty, the whale measured approximately 15 feet in length, had a girth of nearly 6 feet, and weighed between 800 and 1,000 kg.
He explained that pygmy killer whales are seldom sighted because they usually live in deep offshore waters. “It likely sustained injuries from a boat or fishing trawler, causing it to be carried toward the shore,” he told PTI.
Despite its name, the pygmy killer whale is actually a member of the oceanic dolphin family and is easily recognised by its distinctive white lips and dark eye patch.
The carcass was later transported to the Forest Department office in Basudevpur, for a post-mortem examination, and samples of tissue and blood were taken for laboratory testing. Authorities have also launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of death.
