Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA) - A sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) washed up dead on Wadumaddi Beach, Sabu Island, Sabu Raijua District, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province.
The dead sperm whale was found in a coastal area near the Bukit Salju tourist attraction on Thursday night, Head of the Kupang National Water Conservation Area (BKKPN) Imam Fauzi stated here on Friday.
"When it was found, it was already in a state of decay," he remarked.
The Kupang BKKPN deployed officers to check the condition of the nine-meter-long sperm whale at the location.
"Colleagues from the BKKPN will identify and measure as well as take samples for DNA testing," he revealed.
Imam stated that the sperm whale may have died in the middle of the sea a few days ago, and its body was then swept away by the currents to the coastal area in Wadumaddi Village, Hawu Mehara Sub-district.
Head of the Kupang BKKPN confirmed that after identification, measurement, and sampling were conducted, the Kupang BKKPN officers would bury the sperm whale carcass.
Meanwhile, Sabu Raijua Police Chief AKBP Jakob Seubelan remarked that local residents will perform traditional rituals before the burial of the whale carcass.
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"There is a plan to conduct traditional rituals to be led by traditional leader Mone Ama prior to the burial around the coast in order to prevent pollution," he stated.
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The police dispatched officers to the location where the whale appeared and to the burial site to prevent crowds of people amassing to get a glimpse of the dead whale.
