A 30-foot blue whale was found dead near Gwadar East Bay on Wednesday after drifting through the area for two days. The whale had reportedly been seen swimming in different locations in Gwadar's waters over the previous two days before waves carried it toward the shore.
The animal's body was discovered in relatively shallow waters, which may have contributed to it becoming stranded. M Moazzam Khan, a technical adviser for WWF-Pakistan, stated that the death of such a large whale is a worrying development for marine biodiversity.
While the actual cause of death remains unknown, preliminary assessments suggest the whale may have entered shallow waters where its ability to navigate could have been compromised, causing it to lose its way and drift toward the coast. WWF has initiated further investigations into the incident.
Pakistan's coastline has witnessed several cases of large whales being stranded or found dead over the years, underscoring the vulnerabilities facing marine life in the region. Previous incidents include a 34-foot whale found dead along the Gwadar coast in April 2019, and a 42-foot whale discovered at Bandari beach in Jiwani in May 2023.
In November 2023, a 27-foot Bryde's whale was found dead near Pasni. Additionally, a whale measuring around 35 feet was spotted floating dead in the sea near Kantani, Gwadar, in June 2024.
