Synthetic bag found in stomach of whale that died after being stranded in Hong Kong
Authorities say whale was in ‘extremely weak condition’ when found in waters off Lantau Island
Veterinarians have found a large synthetic bag in the digestive system of a whale that died on Sunday after being stranded in the waters off Hong Kong’s Lantau Island.
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department on Sunday night said preliminary findings from the necropsy suggested the whale incurred its wounds while stranded in shallow waters.
According to the department, the mammal was a male and was a beaked whale, or a Ziphiidae, measuring six (19.7 feet) to seven metres in length.
This species typically lives in deep waters and Hong Kong was not a usual habitat for them, according to the department’s spokesman. The whale was spotted on Saturday
He said veterinarians from Ocean Park found no signs of injuries resulting from propellers or severe collisions with vessels, but said “a large synthetic bag” measuring 88cm (2.9 feet) by 52cm was found in the whale’s digestion system.
The whale was found to be in “an extremely weak condition” during sedation administered for further diagnosis, and subsequently died at around Sunday midnight.
