The Hindu : Front Page : A `strange phenomenon' along the coast

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Monday, Aug 14, 2006

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A `strange phenomenon' along the coast

Staff Reporter

Increase in incidence of death of whales

MYSTERIOUS: A dead whale, which was washed ashore at Kundhukal recently.

Ramanathapuram: The Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park (GMMNP) has urged the State Government to constitute an expert panel or competent agency to study the increasing incidence of death of whales on its territorial waters.

A few days ago, the park officials spotted a dead sei whale at Kundhukal near Pamban in a decomposed state. This is the third such incident in the last three weeks and the second in one week.

Ten whales have been washed ashore along the Gulf of Mannar coast during the last seven-and-a-half months. The first incident was reported on December 26, 2005 at Mangadu in Rameswaram island. Most of the incidents were reported between the shores of Mandapam and Pamban. The mammals were identified as blue whales, sei whales and sperm whales.

While terming the incidence as a "strange phenomenon," K.G. Ananda Naik, Conservator of Forests, who inspected a dead whale recently, said the study should find out the reasons for this. On whether the deaths were due to the ongoing dredging for the Sethusamudram project, Mr. Naik said it was premature to comment.

S. Shenbagamoorthy, Wildlife Warden, GMMNP, said that death of only 95 whales had been reported in the region from 1841 to 1995, according to available statistics.

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