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EPAA takes part in Bryde’s whale necropsy

SHARJAH: A dead Bryde’s whale was found in Dubai waters, with a length of over 12 metres.

Thanks to the cooperation between the Environment and Protected Areas Authority in Sharjah (EPAA), and Zayed University, a complete necropsy of the whale carcass was successfully conducted, and valuable samples were collected, which will help to beter understand the condition and ecology of this species in the region, and ultimately support the conservation of these majestic marine creatures.

Hana Saif Al Suwaidi, Chairperson of the EPAA said: “This work on the autopsy of the Bryde’s whale was part of a programme launched by the Environment and Protected Areas Authority named Sharjah Stranding Response Programme.

“The purpose of the necropsy is to identify the causes of death and for other scientific research purposes. The Bryde’s whales have a smooth bodies with dark grey skin on top, and white skin on the botom, and they are found only in the Indo-pacific region.”

She pointed out that the whale was found dead in the Jebel Ali Canal by the DP World emergency team that moved the animal into the port and, thanks to a series of communications, the animal’s body was successfully recovered and transferred to an area where it was possible to conduct a safe transport operation and a complete autopsy.

A male Bryde’s whale measuring 12.38 metres in length and weighing 15 tonnes was successfully identified, as the application of the “External Interaction Protocol for Human Evaluation” revealed no clear evidence of marine debris entanglement or ship strikes, nor was any trace of food in the stomachs. A number of parasites were observed in several organs, and the collected samples will be used to check the condition of the various organs, toxicological parameters, in addition to the animal’s genetic profile.

The Bryde’s whale is rare, but they are widespread in the Arabian Gulf and the Arabian Sea, and two types of Bryde’s whales have currently been identified, with one of them possibly containing two different subspecies.

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2021-06-21T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-06-21T07:00:00.0000000Z

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Dar AlKhaleej