The decomposing remains of a sperm whale have been reported this morning (Sunday) by Maritime Rescue on the coast of Adeje by Callao Salvaje in the south of Tenerife. The cetacean measured between eight and ten meters in length, and had a large cut that had practically severed its tail.
Natacha Aguilar from the University of La Laguna (ULL) and member of the Conservation Research Group, Bioecomac, said “The deep cut on the caudal fin (tail) indicates that the possible cause of death is a collision, and that the whale died offshore and then has been washed ashore by the currents”, while explaining that, due to its dimensions, it is either a young male or an adult female.
Aguilar wanted to emphasize that “I cannot confirm this cause of death 100%, only that it shows signs of it due to the cut. However, we do know that in almost all cases of sperm whales with signs of collision, the animal was alive when the ship ran over it”.
The forensic veterinary team of the University Institute of Animal Health of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), who are in charge of the necropsy of the sperm whale stranded on Nogales beach in La Palma on May 21st, will be in charge of determining the cause of death.
