T

he Jakarta port authorities and many volunteers worked so hard in their efforts to rescue the stranded whale on the northern coast of Tanjung Pakis–Kerawang, but to no avail.

They were joined by Kopassus, Sagara and Tagana search and rescue teams, and the Tanjung Priok port authorities sent out four boats, including the powerful  KN348.   

It is so sad to read that the sperm whale died after such incredible efforts were made to drag it out to sea,  involving so many volunteers and as many boats.

Everybody worked so hard for so many days but alas, it was not to be.

This fantastic combined effort carried out by so many people needs to be rewarded even though the whale — in the end — died from exhaustion and dehydration.

It is a sad day for all animal lovers and all those remarkable individuals who even now are still fighting to protect these gigantic and almost extinct marine species.

Lynna van der Zee-Oehmke
Bogor, West Java