Autopsies of beached whales in southern Taiwan reveal sickness

台灣南部海邊鯨魚的屍體解剖透露死因

18 plastic bags found in the stomach of a stranded killer whale in Kaohsiung


TAIPEI (Taiwan News) —Three stranded killer whales, two female and one male, died at the National Cheng-kung University Marine Biology & Cetacean Research Center (經成功大學海洋生物及鯨豚研究中心) in Kaohsiung this week.

Researchers found 18 plastic bags in the stomach of the thinnest of the three whales during autopsy, reported CNA.

The other female whale had hardened plastic bags and other unidentifiable objects in her stomach as well as serious ulcers.


(CNA image)

No objects were discovered inside of the male whale though he did have had infected lungs, parasites around the genitals, and a flushed stomach.

Finding plastic bags inside the stomachs of beached whales is becoming increasingly common, according to the researchers. Lung problems ultimately caused the rapid deaths of the whales.


(CNA image)

The whales appeared on a Kaohsiung beach March 6. As their health deteriorated much quicker than expected, the combined efforts of over 60 people moved them to the research center on March 9.