Stranded Humpback Whale Dies Despite Rescue Efforts

On Tuesday, residents of Jembrana spent several hours trying to return a huge humpback whale to the ocean, but a strong low tide made it impossible to save the animal.

At around 11 a.m., local fishermen found a live humpback whale about 7.7 metres long on Perancak Beach (Pantai Perancak) in Jembrana Regency. One of the fishermen was the first to spot the animal, after which the discovery was reported to the local authorities.

Village residents immediately rushed to help. Several people tried to push the whale back into the ocean. According to fisherman Made Aryoto, they were unable to do so because of the animal’s heavy weight and the strong low tide. Another local resident, Nengah Padmasana, said they had even managed to move the whale a little further from the shore for a short time, but soon afterwards the waves carried it back into shallow water.

The rescue operation involved the police, the Indonesian Navy, vets, volunteers and local residents. While specialists looked for a way to evacuate the animal, people tried to ease its condition. A small hollow was dug around the whale and filled with seawater, while the whale itself was covered with wet cloth and carpets. Later, a canopy was also put up to protect it from the scorching sun.

Despite all efforts, the whale died at around 3 p.m.

Afterwards, vets carried out a necropsy — a post-mortem examination of the animal that helps establish the cause of death. The carcass was then removed using heavy machinery and buried on the coast. All work was completed at around 6 p.m.

The head of the Jembrana water police unit, I Putu Suparta, noted that rescuing such large marine animals requires cooperation between different services and strict compliance with environmental procedures. According to him, despite the tragic outcome, every stage of the operation — from the rescue attempt to the burial — was carried out properly.

Cases like this do not happen often in Bali, but they cannot be completely ruled out. Each time, the outcome depends on several factors at once — the condition of the animal, the weather, the tide and how quickly the rescue operation can begin.

Sources: Antara, Detik, Bali Post.