Discovery of the Stranded Whale
A whale approximately 12 metres long was found dead on Monday on the coast of Playas de Tijuana, a district of the municipality of Tijuana, in the Mexican state of Baja California, in the north-west of the country.
Footage filmed on Tuesday shows the cetacean stranded on the sand with signs of decomposition, as several birds approach and tourists and residents take photographs of the scene. According to local media reports, the authorities were notified of the discovery, and samples are expected to be taken to identify the species and determine the cause of death.
Resident Observations and Environmental Concerns
Carlos Gonzalez, a resident of Playas de Tijuana, said he usually goes to the area daily and that he had ‘never seen’ a specimen of that size dead on the beach. He added that days earlier he had observed whales close to the shore. “On Friday and Saturday I had the chance to see the [whales] about 25 metres out. I do not know if this would be one of them,” he said.
Another resident, Eder Marquez, voiced concern about pollution in the area and linked the presence of sewage to possible impacts on marine fauna, although the cause of the cetacean’s death has not yet been established. “I think that contaminates the beach and means marine animals do not survive it, because I think it alters their natural habitat,” he said.
Investigation and Disposal Procedures
Local media reports indicate that the authorities will also seek to determine whether the animal died of natural causes or suffered an incident, such as a possible entanglement with fishing nets. So far, the agencies have not specified whether the examinations will be carried out on the beach or whether the specimen will be taken to a specialised centre.
According to background reported by local media, around a year ago another cetacean was found dead on the same stretch of coast. In similar cases in the region, the authorities have opted to bury the remains in pits dug in the sand, although it has not been confirmed whether this procedure will be used again.
Article by Viory
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