A 30-foot-long dead whale was recovered from the Andharmanik River in Taltali Upazila of Barguna district on Wednesday.
The carcass was retrieved at around 12pm from the river near the Charpara Kheya Ghat area in Barabagi Union by members of the Forest Department and the Coast Guard.
According to the Forest Department, the whale entered the Andharmanik River after drifting from the Bay of Bengal. Local residents initially brought the whale from the middle of the river to the bank.
However, as the whale had died several days earlier, it had begun decomposing and emitting a foul odour, prompting locals to float it back into the river. Upon receiving the information, officials from the Nishanbaria Forest Department recovered the whale from the river.
Forest Department officials stated that the whale measures approximately 30 feet in length, 15 feet in width, and has an estimated weight of 5 to 6 tonnes. Samples will be collected from the whale prior to burying it in a safe location.
Forest Department Taltali Range Officer Ziaur Rahman said he arrived at the spot with department members after receiving the news. He noted that as the massive whale was decomposing and spreading a stench, samples would be collected quickly and the carcass buried to avoid environmental pollution.
Taltali Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Atish Sarker said that a delegation from the Forest Department and Coast Guard personnel are present at the site and taking necessary measures. He added that the exact species of the large, black-coloured whale has not yet been confirmed.
