KUCHING: The Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) has identified the marine mammal beached on Kuala Sungai Siwak shore in Baram, Miri last Thursday as a Bryde’s whale (Balaenoptera edeni).
According to SFC, which is the lead agency of the Sarawak Marine Mammal Stranding Network (SMMSN), the corporation’s marine biologists needed a collection of photographs from several sources to be able to detect the key features of the Bryde’s whale, which are the three ridges on its head, before its species could be identified.
“Based on the appearance of the ridges which are less prominent, its estimated length of less than 10 metres and the sighting of another larger individual whale swimming close in waters near the location, it is believed that the said mammal is a juvenile and the other whale sighted could be its mother,” said SFC in a statement here yesterday.
SFC said SMMSN was dedicated to saving marine mammals, like dugongs, dolphins, whales, and porpoises, found beached or stranded on shores all over Sarawak.
SMMSN comprises standing members from SFC, Sarawak Forest Department, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department, Sarawak Department of Marine Fisheries, Veterinary Agriculture Department, Royal Malaysia Police, Sarawak Museum Department and Malaysia Civil Defence Force.
“SFC thanks, in particular, the network’s member, Fire and Rescue Department Malaysia, for its quick response to dispatch its men and also to the public for their assistance which have greatly contributed to a swift rescue operation,” said the statement.
SFC also said the last recorded sighting of stranded Baleen whale (the group which the Bryde’s whale belongs to) in Sarawak was at Kuala Tatau in February, 2014. The whale was also successfully released back to the sea, thanks to public participation.
The corporation advised members of the community to lodge reports of stranded marine mammals at the nearest SFC office in Kuching at 082-610088, Sibu (084-337444), Bintulu (086-313726) and Miri (085-436637).
