A dwarf sperm whale was discovered dead on the shores of Vunito Goloa Village in Ra on Thursday morning. Known as the smallest member of the whale family, the dwarf sperm whale is even smaller than many dolphin species.
Local villagers who found the deceased whale reported that it appeared to have sustained injuries. Village headman Josefa Manakiwai stated that the mammal measured approximately 3.6 meters in length. He noted, “The villagers who returned from fishing in the early morning found it on our shore. I believe it had died sometime during the night or early this morning.”
He speculated that the whale may have been bitten by a large shark while it was in open waters, pointing to visible marks on its body.
Mr. Manakiwai remarked that it is unusual for whales to wash ashore unless they have been injured at sea. “This is the second time we’ve experienced this; the first incident was in 1993 when a dead whale was found on our shores, which was also injured.”
Rusiate Waqata, the service center manager with the Ministry of Fisheries in Rakiraki, confirmed the species of the mammal as a dwarf sperm whale, stating, “It must have been bitten and subsequently washed ashore.”