A giant sperm whale has died after locals tried to rescue it from an illegal fishing net.
The gillnet, which is banned in the area, became entangled around the whale’s head and fins, making it difficult for it to swim.
The weakened and disoriented sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), the world’s largest toothed predator, drifted towards the coast, becoming stranded on Cuevitas Beach in Bahía Solano, north-western Colombia, on Tuesday (10 Mar).
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Local fishermen and residents tried to save the huge mammal but to no avail.
They were assisted by Coastguard and environmental officials, but it passed away on the beach.
A spokesperson for Regional Autonomous Corporation for the Sustainable Development of Chocó said: “It was evident that the individual showed signs of exhaustion, difficulty with swimming, and disorientation due to a gillnet entangled around its mouth, left pectoral fin, and tail fin.
“This regrettable incident reminds us of the need to strengthen control and monitoring efforts regarding the use of fishing gear that can seriously harm marine megafauna.
“There is a lot of talk about the conservation and protection of marine species, but there are not enough resources allocated.”
Sperm whales are primarily found in tropical and temperate waters.
They are currently listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
They can reach up to 20 metres in length and weigh up to 50 tons, as reported by Need To Know.
Sperm whales, capable of diving to depths of up to 2,000 metres, feed on squid, octopus, and fish.
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