In a rare and significant marine event, the carcass of a 15-foot-long false killer whale was discovered at the Kasia fishing jetty in Odisha's Bhadrak district on Sunday. This marks the first recorded instance of this species being found dead along the Odisha coastline in over twenty years of monitoring.
Expert Identification and Species Significance
Eminent marine biologist Dipani Sutaria confirmed the species after examining photographs and videos of the carcass. Sutaria, who is associated with James Cook University, Australia and is a member of the IUCN cetacean specialist group, highlighted the rarity of the find. "This is the first time the carcass of a false killer whale was found along the Odisha coast as we have been monitoring the species for more than two decades," she stated.
The false killer whale, despite its name, is not directly related to the killer whale. It earns its name from the similar shape of its skull. It holds the distinction of being the largest species within the Delphinidae family, which also includes dolphins, killer whales, and pilot whales. This oceanic dolphin typically inhabits deep tropical to warm temperate seas and is often confused with bottlenose dolphins or pilot whales. Sutaria added that the species is currently listed as 'Data Deficient' on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, underscoring the need for more research.
Discovery and Investigation by Forest Officials
The massive mammal was first reported to the forest department by local fishermen. Atul Kumar Mohanty, the Forest Range Officer of Basudevpur, detailed the sequence of events. "Forest officials were apprised by some fishermen about the carcass. Forest guards and officials rushed to the area to recover the carcass," he said.
Upon inspection, officials noted that "the animal had scars and evidence of previous entanglements." Mohanty suggested that "the mammal was perhaps hit by some ship in the deep sea or fishing vessels and after its death, the body washed ashore." A team of veterinary doctors conducted an autopsy on the spot. "After getting the postmortem report, we will know the exact cause of death," Mohanty added, concluding the initial phase of the investigation.
Conservation Implications and Future Monitoring
This incident throws a spotlight on the marine biodiversity off the Odisha coast and the potential threats these large cetaceans face from human activities like shipping and fishing. The discovery of such a rare specimen provides valuable data for researchers like Sutaria who are involved in long-term monitoring projects. It emphasizes the importance of continued coastal vigilance and scientific study to better understand and protect these elusive and data-deficient marine mammals in Indian waters.
