A HUGE sperm whale has been washed onto a beach north of Phuket and that's where it will stay, buried under the sand.
The whale, a female, was spotted about 2pm yesterday by a local resident and fisherman, Morhamard Leebamrung, 45, at Ban Bor Dan beach, which is south of Thai Muang in Phang Nga.
The giant of the deep measured 10 metres from tip to tail and weighed as much as 700 kg, said Dr Kongkiat Kittiwattanawong, of the Phuket Marine Biology Centre. He said the whale was probably approaching adulthood.
It had been dead for about two weeks, and may have died a natural death before it was washed ashore, Dr Kongkiat said.
Female sperm whales can grow to 12 metres while bull whales have been known to grow to 20 metres. They are the largest creatures in the sea. The whales usually live in pods, or groups.
Dr Kongkiat said sperm whales were not uncommon off Phuket and Phang Nga, but favored water up to 100 metres deep where their preferred prey was large squid.
Some samples were taken from the dead mammal. A backhoe was used to bury the big creature on the beach.
American's Trip to Life's Other Side on PhuketThe whale, a female, was spotted about 2pm yesterday by a local resident and fisherman, Morhamard Leebamrung, 45, at Ban Bor Dan beach, which is south of Thai Muang in Phang Nga.
The giant of the deep measured 10 metres from tip to tail and weighed as much as 700 kg, said Dr Kongkiat Kittiwattanawong, of the Phuket Marine Biology Centre. He said the whale was probably approaching adulthood.
It had been dead for about two weeks, and may have died a natural death before it was washed ashore, Dr Kongkiat said.
Female sperm whales can grow to 12 metres while bull whales have been known to grow to 20 metres. They are the largest creatures in the sea. The whales usually live in pods, or groups.
Dr Kongkiat said sperm whales were not uncommon off Phuket and Phang Nga, but favored water up to 100 metres deep where their preferred prey was large squid.
Some samples were taken from the dead mammal. A backhoe was used to bury the big creature on the beach.
Latest A life in limbo has come to an end for American Dean Mancuso. His strange existence on Phuket has left him in a cell, facing uncertainty and worried about his daughters.
American's Trip to Life's Other Side on Phuket
Phuket Moon Tides Pound Beach Road
Photo Album Rising concerns mirror the tides as waves pound Phuket's famous beach road scenic route, putting stretches at Kalim and Kamala under water.
Phuket Moon Tides Pound Beach Road
Phuket Goes Pink and Blue as Resorts Open
Photo Album Two resorts on Phuket, one pink and one blue, open on Phuket next week. We went for a preview and found only one welcoming.
Phuket Goes Pink and Blue as Resorts Open
Fresh Call for Phuket Closing Time Crackdown
Latest Phuket's new governor and police commander cannot ignore the growing problems associated with late night venues and must act, says a leading Thai newspaper.
Fresh Call for Phuket Closing Time Crackdown
Phuket Tourism Crush Tipped to Smash All Records
Flights, numbers surge Records are likely to be smashed as Phuket enters a crucial phase of growth in tourism and property without a complete strategy in sight.
Phuket Tourism Crush Tipped to Smash All Records
"They are the largest creatures in the sea".
I thought that honor belonged to the Blue Whale?
Posted by Sir Burr on October 11, 2010 10:23
Editor Comment:
You're right. Blue whales are even bigger. The sperm whale is '' the largest living toothed animal,'' according to Wikipedia.