A dwarf sperm whale was discovered deceased on Thursday morning at Vunito Goloa Village in Ra. The dwarf sperm whale, recognized as the smallest member of the whale family, is even smaller than most dolphin species.
Local villagers reported that the whale appeared to have sustained injuries. Village headman Josefa Manakiwai noted that the mammal measured approximately 3.6 meters in length. He stated, “The villagers who returned from fishing early this morning found it on our shore. I believe it has been dead since last night or early this morning.” Manakiwai speculated that the whale might have been bitten by a large shark while in the open sea, as there were visible marks on its body.
He remarked that it is uncommon for whales to wash ashore unless they are injured at sea, adding, “This is the second time it has happened. The first instance was in 1993 when a dead whale washed ashore, and it, too, was injured.”
Rusiate Waqata, the service center manager with the Ministry of Fisheries in Rakiraki, confirmed the identification of the mammal as a dwarf sperm whale. He stated, “It must have been bitten and stranded out here.”