SEMATAN: A female adult false killer whale died after being found stranded twice at Pantai Pueh here on Saturday (Oct 3), according to the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC).
SFC said the marine mammal was initially rescued and released back into the sea with assistance from the Civil Defence Force, police and members of the public, but was later found stranded again near Pantai Kem Belia Pueh.
The 3.85-metre-long animal was found in a weakened condition and died at about 2pm, with SFC later identifying it through its external morphology and number of teeth as a false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens).
A necropsy found signs of shark bites on its body, while the stomach contained very little material mixed with sand, suggesting it may not have obtained sufficient food before stranding, with the death believed to be linked to complications from the stranding, including possible circulatory failure due to heat stress.
SFC said all marine mammal species, including dolphins, whales and dugongs, are fully protected under the Wildlife Protection Ordinance 1998, and urged the public not to handle stranded, injured or dead wildlife but to immediately report such cases to the corporation for appropriate action.
