Whale washes ashore in TN sea

The carcass of a Bryde's Whale, weighing more than two tonnes, washed ashore near a coastal village in the district today.

The whale was spotted by fisherman R Ekamabaram off Samiyarpet village near Chidambaram and he informed authorities, fisheries and forest officials said.

The 10 meters bluish grey whale was removed with the help of a crane and buried near the shore, they said.

Citing the injuries, including broken spinal cord, Annamalai University's marine biology institute scientist R Sankaran said the whale might have been hit by a ship, resulting in its death.

He said November-May was the migratory period for these mammals as they move up to the northern Bay of Bengal from Southern hemisphere.