Blue Whale Carcass Washes Ashore in Gwadar as WWF-Pakistan Launches Investigation
A roughly 30-foot blue whale was found dead on the coast of East Bay in Gwadar after being spotted swimming offshore for two days. WWF-Pakistan is investigating the cause of death and flags concerns for marine biodiversity.
The carcass of a blue whale, the largest animal on Earth, has washed ashore on the coastline of East Bay in Gwadar, behind the local Coast Guard office, according to local reports. The stranded whale is estimated to be around 30 feet in length.
Local sources said the animal had been seen swimming in waters off Gwadar over the past two days before it drifted ashore and became stranded. The circumstances surrounding its death are not yet known.
Muhammad Moazzam Khan, Technical Advisor at WWF-Pakistan, said the whale most likely strayed into shallow waters, where its navigation may have been affected. He described the death of a large whale as a matter of concern for marine biodiversity and confirmed that WWF-Pakistan has launched an investigation to determine the cause of death.
Khan noted that blue whales have become stranded along Pakistan's coastline in the past as well. WWF-Pakistan keeps records of such strandings and continues to work on conserving rare marine life and raising awareness about marine biodiversity.
The incident highlights ongoing risks to large marine species in the waters off Pakistan's coast, where shipping traffic, fishing activity and changing ocean conditions can affect whale migration and navigation. Further details are expected as the investigation proceeds.
