CHENNAI: The carcass of a short-finned pilot whale, measuring about 4.2 metres in length (13.7 feet), was found ashore at the Thazhankadu beach, located north of Alamparai Fort in Villupuram district, on Saturday morning.
Forest department staff on routine patrol spotted the carcass of the adult female whale around 10 am. Veterinary examination revealed that the body was in a highly decomposed state, making it impossible to ascertain the exact cause of death. However, officials confirmed that there were no visible external injuries on the carcass.
Following standard protocol, the carcass was buried on the beach, and the site was sanitised.
Authorities said necessary precautions were taken during disposal, including the use of chemicals to prevent contamination and the spread of pathogens.
The discovery comes a day after another short-finned pilot whale was reported to have washed ashore along the same stretch in an injured condition. Eyewitnesses had claimed that the whale appeared alive, with its tail and fins moving. However, before forest personnel could secure the animal, the tides pulled it back into the sea.
Forest officials, however, maintained that both sightings involved the same whale. According to them, the mammal had already died earlier and was observed floating about 500 metres off the coast on Friday. They explained that wave action can cause movement in the tail and fins, creating the impression that the animal was alive.
Local fishermen, however, said that the whale seen earlier appeared fresh with a shiny skin, while the carcass recovered on Saturday was in an advanced state of decomposition.