whale

Rare pygmy sperm whale dies after stranding on Taiwan’s west coast

pygmy sperm whale
Marine and Fisheries 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

A rarely seen in Taiwan pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps) died despite rescue efforts after stranding on a beach in Chiayi County this morning, Sunday, February 13. A fisherman found the pygmy sperm whale stranded on a beach in Budai Township at around 8:00 am. The fisherman reported the stranding to the local branch of the National Coast Guard Administration. Coast guard officers contacted the National Cheng Kung University Marine Biology and Cetacean Research Center, and attempted to keep the

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Pilot whale delights tourists on Taiwan’s east coast

pilot whale close to tourists on shore at Sanxiantai, Taitung County, Taiwan
Animals 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

Tourists were both delighted, but also nervous when a pilot whale approached the shore at Sanxiantai in Taitung County recently. Hundreds of tourists were on the shore, some wading ankle deep, when the whale swam within a few meters of the beach on Monday, July 29. The whale circled around and came back to shore, leading one woman, fearful that the whale intended to beach itself, shouting, “don’t come back, don’t come back!” After completing a circle, the whale swam

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Plastic garbage found in stomach of dead, pregnant whale

garbage found in belly of whale
Marine and Fisheries 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , , ,

A dead whale that washed up on a beach in Cheng-gong Township, Taitung County, March 15, was found to have a significant amount of plastic and other man-made materials in its stomach, after being dissected, yesterday, March 19. Researchers from the Ocean Conservation Administration, and the Taiwan Cetacean Society, said the 565-centimeter-long Cuvier’s beaked whale was pregnant, and contained a 165-centimeter-long fetus. Inside the stomach of the whale, the researchers found 6 plastic bags, 4 burlap bags, a piece of

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Remains of Whale Found in Hsinchu

whale carcass
Marine and Fisheries 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

A whale carcass was recovered by researchers after being found washed up against wave breakers in Hsinchu County this morning, Sunday, October 1. Professor Wang Jianping(王建平) from Cheng Kung University Cetacean Research Center identified the animal as a species of baleen whale. The remains were taken back to the research center for further identification and study. The 10 meter long whale carcass was found in the vicinity of Gangnan Coastal Scenic Area. A fishing boat was used to tow the

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