THE WHALE did not survive and marine biologists believe it may have suffered from a virus. A male, it measured 4.5 metres and weighed 600 kilos. An autopsy was planned to determine the cause of death.


PHUKET: Locals and marine biologists teamed together yesterday to rescue an unusual Cuvier's Beaked Whale, trapped by surf in shallow waters south of Phuket.

The three-metre whale was discovered offshore at Li Bong in Trang province about 2.30pm.

Fishermen looked for wounds but could find none. It appeared, they figured, that the whale simply could not make its way back out to sea through the strong waves.

Marine biologists were called and a plan was made to help the whale.

Using a net and a longtail boat, the group managed to tow the creature through the breakers to deeper water, where they released it in darkness, about 8pm.

Cuvier's Beaked Whale is reckoned to mostly inhabit open ocean and can dive to three kilometres, deeper than all other whales.