Whale's Misadventure in HK Waters

A dead whale carcass was found Monday morning in Sai Kung

Fishermen spotted a whale carcass floating in the waters off Shelter Island in Sai Kung, Hong Kong, and now police and officials from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department are trying to assess whether the 7-metre-whale is the one that was spotted in mid-July.

It was a surprise to see a Bryde's whale in Hong Kong, with conservation groups speculating it may have lost its way. As a result tourist-boats filled with people rushed out to see the whale, which was found to have two large gashes in its back about a week ago. The wounds may have been caused by a propeller.

A Bryde's whale was spotted July 13

If the carcass is the same whale, its demise may have been caused by the injury, though people encroaching on it, would have inflicted greater stress on the animal, having so many boats only metres away from it.

The authorities and conservation groups had called for people to be at least 100 metres away from the mammal.

Even Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki, currently acting Chief Executive as John Lee Ka-chiu is away, to order marine police to increase patrols in the area to keep boats away from the Bryde's whale.

At the time marine biologist Taison Chang Kai-tai, chairman of the Hong Kong Dolphin Conservation Society urged the public not to go too close to the animal to avoid causing further injuries, and that it may have lost its way.

Two gashes were on the whale's back

"With the injuries, it will face bigger difficulties in finding its way out [to its habitat]," Chang said, adding it was also facing more challenges in feeding.

The demise of the whale is a sad reminder of the ignorance of Hongkongers when it comes to wild animals. The keyword is wild.