Fishermen in Ras Al Khaimah made a startling discovery on Thursday when they spotted a gigantic baleen whale floating lifeless off the coast. The mammoth whale, measuring approximately 35 meters, was found about 8 kilometers from Al Jazeera Al Hamra Creek. Nukhadha Humaid Al Zaabi, a local fisherman, came across the colossal creature during his daily sea excursion around 8 a.m. He managed to capture pictures and videos of the deceased whale.
Al Zaabi, reflecting on the whale’s substantial size, speculated that the animal might have perished due to old age, a collision with a ship, or a confrontation with a killer whale.
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Dr. Saif Mohammed Al Ghais, the director-general of the Environment Protection and Development Authority (EPDA) in the emirate, confirmed that the whale had been first sighted three days earlier, approximately 30 kilometers away. Over this period, it had gradually approached the shoreline.
Authorities are currently assessing the whale’s condition and have issued a warning to fishermen about its presence in the surrounding waters. Al Ghais mentioned that once the carcass reaches the shore, EPDA will take the necessary measures.
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It’s worth noting that the decomposing state of the whale has made it challenging to definitively identify it as a baleen whale. Baleen whales are one of the two primary categories of these marine mammals, distinguished by the fibrous ‘combs’ in their mouths instead of teeth. Notable members of the baleen whale group include humpbacks and blue whales. Experts will conduct further examinations upon its arrival on the coast to confirm its species.
