Marine biologist and Director of the Tyre Coast Nature Reserve, Ali Badreddine, examines the dead whale, 4 September 2023. (Courtesy of Muntasser Abdallah/L'Orient Today)
BEIRUT — A dead sperm whale was found washed up on the shore of the city of Sour on Sunday afternoon, for the second time since last week, marine biologist and Director of the Tyre Coast Nature Reserve Ali Badreddine told L’Orient Today on Monday.
"The stranded whale, measuring 19 meters, was discovered yesterday afternoon, and its body appeared to have decomposed shortly before being found," Badreddine said.
According to Badreddine, the National Council for Scientific Research arrived to the scene on Monday and took specimens from the whale, for the purpose of identifying the cause of its death and to conduct further studies.
"However, those specimens will be sent abroad as we don’t have the capacities for such studies in Lebanon," he elaborated.
The municipality of Qoleilah in Sour, buried the whale on site after the specimens were taken.
"This incident, although not frequent, is not uncommon and has happened in the past, not only in Lebanon but in several Mediterranean countries," Badreddine continued.
"There are several causes for the death of whales. Mainly whales die as a result of accidents with boats as they are large in size and swim slowly, certain parasites are also fatal to whales, plastic thrown in the sea is also often swallowed by whales which causes them fatal digestive problems, and sometimes they get stuck and choke on fishing nets," Badreddine explained.
"The sperm whale is an endangered animal and must be protected."