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A nine-metre fin whale weighing around 6.5 tonnes has been found dead on the breakwater at the entrance to the Royal Yacht Club of Valencia, in a discovery that has stunned those working in the area.

 

The animal was spotted by a vessel from the Blue Marine Foundation and a vessel from the Blue Marine Foundation immediately alerted the Stranding Network of the Valencian Community. The crew also helped ensure the whale could be moved to a position where specialist teams were able to reach it safely.

 

Veterinarians who carried out an initial inspection confirmed the whale was a female fin whale. At an estimated 6.5 tonnes, she belonged to the second largest species on the planet, surpassed only by the blue whale. Fin whales are a familiar presence in Mediterranean waters during parts of their life cycle, particularly in migration and feeding areas, but it is far from common to see one washed up inside a port.

 

The cause of death is not yet known.

 

Teams from the Oceanogràfic Foundation and technicians from the University of Valencia travelled to the scene, working in coordination with environmental agents from the Ministry for Ecological Transition, the Nautical Club and Valencia Charter, which provided logistical support. A full necropsy (the animal equivalent of an autopsy) will now be carried out following established scientific protocols for large cetaceans. Those involved describe the examination as “crucial” in helping determine, as far as possible, what happened and in adding to ongoing research into marine wildlife in the Mediterranean.

 

The Oceanogràfic Foundation said its role forms part of its regular work responding to stranded or injured marine animals. The intervention has partial backing from the Pairi Daiza Foundation through its programme supporting marine mammal strandings in the Valencian Community.

 

The find comes not long after four whales were discovered stranded along the coasts of Murcia and Almería in a single day, prompting an investigation. That unusual cluster of incidents had already raised questions among experts.

 

For now, attention is firmly on the results of the necropsy in Valencia, which may help shed light on this latest loss and whether it forms part of a wider pattern affecting large whales in Spanish waters.

 

 

Image: wikicommons