Whale washed ashore

RAMANATHAPURAM: The officials of Gulf of Mannar National Marine Park (GOMNMP) recovered the carcass of a rare species of Baleen whale at Mangaleswari Nagar, near Pudumayakulam, on Monday.The whale probably might have been hit by a big vessel and dashed against a rock in the sea.The whale was 12 metre long, weighing two-and-a-half tons. The carcass was washed in a highly decomposed state.The baleen whale do not possess teeth and instead has baleen blades to swallow fish, after draining out the sea water from its mouth. GOMNMP Wildlife Warden Sundara Kumar rushed to the spot along with a forest team.  Then, a team of veterinary doctors visited the spot, conducted an autopsy and buried it on the shore later.