Dead Blue Whale Found Near Gwadar Bay in Pakistan

A 35-foot-long blue whale was discovered dead on Monday in the remote waters of Gwatar Bay, located between Pakistan and Iran.

Ahmad Baloch, a local fisherman, spotted the whale floating near Kuntani, Balochistan. According to WWF-Pakistan, the whale likely died a few days earlier in the open sea and drifted towards the bay due to strong currents and rough waters.

While the exact cause of death is still unknown, experts believe the whale may have become entangled in fishing nets commonly used in the area.

The blue whale, known scientifically as Balaenoptera musculus, is one of three species of baleen whales found in Pakistani waters. The other two are Bryde’s whale and the Arabian humpback whale. Given its smaller size, this whale is thought to be a pygmy blue whale, a subspecies found in the Northern Indian Ocean.

Muhammad Moazzam Khan, Technical Advisor at WWF-Pakistan, expressed sadness over the whale’s death, calling it a serious loss for marine conservation. He emphasised the importance of protecting whales, as the blue whale is an endangered species.

In Pakistan, whales and dolphins are protected under wildlife laws in Sindh and Balochistan. Khan also called for federal-level legislation to protect these marine animals within Pakistan’s exclusive economic zone.

There have been several blue whale sightings in Pakistan in recent years, with the last one reported near Gaddani in April 2024. Blue whales are the largest animals on Earth, growing up to 33 metres long and weighing up to 190 tonnes.