Blue whale washes ashore dead in Gwadar

Its body was eventually found near the shore, where relatively shallow waters may have contributed to the animal becoming stranded. The incident has prompted concern among marine conservationists, with organisations working to assess the circumstances surrounding the whale's death.- Pakistan technical adviser M Moazzam Khan, the death of a large whale is a worrying development for marine biodiversity.

Preliminary assessments suggest that the animal may have entered shallow waters, where its ability to navigate could have been compromised, causing it to lose its way and drift towards the coast. However, the actual cause of death remains unknown, and WWF has initiated further investigations.

The latest incident is not an isolated one. Pakistan's coastline has witnessed several cases of large whales being stranded or found dead over the years, underscoring the vulnerabilities facing marine life in the region. In April 2019, a whale measuring around 34 feet was found dead along the Gwadar coast.

In May 2023, another dead whale, measuring approximately 42 feet, was discovered at Bandari beach in Jiwani. In November of the same year, a 27-foot Bryde's whale was found dead near Pasni. More recently, in June 2024, a whale measuring around 35 feet was spotted floating dead in the sea near Kantani, Gwadar.