Whale dies after returning to sea in Indonesia
Associated Press, Jakarta | Archipelago | Mon, July 30 2012, 1:12 PM
Rescuers attempt to free a sperm whale that was stuck in shallow waters off Pakis Jaya beach in Karawang, West Java, Indonesia, on Friday, July 28, 2012. The 12-meter (39-foot) sperm whale washed ashore Wednesday. (AP/Dadang Tri)
Indonesian rescuers say a sperm whale they helped
return to sea has been found dead about 25 kilometers west of
where it was beached for four days.
The
12-meter whale washed ashore Wednesday near West Java's
Karawang beach, attracting hundreds of onlookers in fishing boats who
blocked rescuers from leading it to deeper water.
Pramudya Harzani from the Jakarta Animal Aid Network said Monday that
rescuers found its carcasses in Muara Gembong after dozens of navy
divers and volunteers led the 2-ton whale to deep waters late Saturday.
The whale, a protected species, was weak, but spouted
water and swam away after being pulled into deeper depths with 10
vessels, including a tug boat. It was bruised and scratched, apparently
from spectators climbing on it.
