REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BANDA ACEH - Four stranded whales were found dead on Tuesday after being stuck in the shallow waters of the Ujung Kareung Beach, Aceh Besar District, Aceh Province, on Monday.
According to Antara's observation on the scene, the two whales were found dead close to the location where they were stranded, while the other two were found in a lifeless condition 200 meters to the eastern side.
Some locals were seen taking selfies with the dead whales while climbing onto the front limbs of the animals.
The locals reported that the three whales had died at 3 a.m. local time, while the rest was found dead this morning after being dragged by the waters to the beach.
"The fourth whales are believed to have died in the deep waters after the authority moved the animals earlier this morning. The waves then dragged the whales to the beach," Muhammad Rusli, a local, informed Antara.
"Some eight out of the 10 whales were seen stranded. We could only see half of their fins. The whales continue to move their tails," Muhammad, a local, said on Monday.
Following the report, the authority sought to move the pack until late morning by dragging the whales using a motorboat.
However, the attempt proved unsuccessful, as the four whales were seen returning to the beach after being dragged to the deep waters.
After several attempts, some whales were successfully moved to the deep waters earlier this Tuesday.
Teuku Nurmadi, chairman of the Aceh Small Islands, Coasts, Fishery, and Maritime Affairs Office, said on Monday that the pack was part of the sperm whale family.
"These animals live in packs. When a single member of the pack swims to the beach, the others will follow, and (they are) found stranded here," Nurmadi stated, while adding, the whales are rarely stranded.
Hence, the pack might have got stranded during migration, he noted.
"We do not yet know the origin of these whales, either their destination or the migration route," he said, Monday.
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