Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam   

Whale strays into Vizag waters

Nivedita Ganguly

SURPRISE VISITOR: The Pilot whale that strayed on to the beach being pushed back by animal rights activists into the sea in Visakhapatnam on Friday. — Photo:K.R. Deepak

VISAKHAPATNAM: A Pilot whale that strayed into Vizag's coastal waters from its home in the deep tropical seas was towed back to the sea through a mechanised boat by the Forest Department officials after a four-hour struggle here on Friday.

Visakhapatnam Circle Conservator of Forests P.V. Padmanabham told The Hindu that the members of this endangered species sometimes stray into the shallow waters close to the beaches, especially during the winter season, when they take the migratory route. "These whales are either wounded or get disoriented due to some reason," he said.

Struggling for its life for more than four hours, the whale that was more than 13-feet long created quite a panic among the people who gathered on the beach. The whale suffered injuries and animal rights activists were doubtful of its survival. "Though it was taken inside the water, we have to keep a watch and see if it comes back to the coast again," said Mr. Padmanabham. Despite the fear associated with the monsters of the deep, a group of fishermen tried their best to drag the whale into the water. It violently kept thrusting its tail in the water, in the process injuring a few. "We suddenly saw a huge fish-like thing moving near the beach. That's when we informed the local press and other officials," said Trinadh, a student.

Fastest species

Pilot whales are the fastest species of whales that can swim at speeds of 48 kmph in order to catch their prey. Most species of whales are endangered as a result of large-scale whaling during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. For centuries, large whales have been hunted for oil, meat, baleen and ambergris (a perfume ingredient from the intestine of sperm whales). By the middle of the 20th century, whaling left the whale population severely depleted.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Whale strays into Vizag waters
`Two potential research fields'
Thousands throng Ross Hill shrine
They all cannot afford to get vocal
Live workshop on ear disorders
Lifetime achievement award for B.K. Agarwal
Two new trains to bypass city
IGIAT offers new course
Recruitment of trainee SIs
Discourses on Ramayana
Around the City
In Visakhapatnam Today

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu