BEACHED WHALE NEAR PEKAN DIES

PEKAN (Malaysia), Oct 15 (Bernama) -- The baby whale, believed to be of the fin whale species, that was stranded Monday at the Kuala Sungai Nenasi beach near this east coast town, died Tuesday despite efforts made to release it back to sea.

Pahang Fisheries Department Director Mohamad Mat Saman said the 10-metre
long baby whale, estimated to weigh three tonnes, was reported dead at about 2pm
after being stranded on the beach.

He said that personnel from his department, together with the Fire and
Rescue Department and the villagers, had made an effort to rescue the fish by
pushing it back to see during the high tide when the water was one-and-a-half
metre deep Monday night.

However, he said the fish was again reported beached Tuesday
morning.

"As the whale was becoming increasingly weaker, we wrapped up the fish
using wet cloth but the rescue effort was stopped when the fish died this
afternoon 9Tuesday)," he said when contacted, here Tuesday.

The baby whale was believed to have been separated from its mother before
entering the Pekan waters and was stranded on the beach about 10 kilometres from
the Kuala Sungai Nenasi fish landing zone due to the low tide between 7am and
9am Monday.

Mohamad said the whale would be buried near the beach after examination by
officials from the Veterinary department.