Dead sperm whale off China’s coast found to be carrying fetus, in what scientists claim is a world first
Marine experts say discovery could be important to conservation and protection of species
A sperm whale that died this week off China’s southern coast was found to be carrying a whale fetus, in a discovery experts claim is a world first and could be important to the conservation and protection of the species.
The sperm whale was announced dead on Wednesday after becoming stranded at Daya Bay in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, following three days of efforts failed to guide it back to the ocean, mainland news portal chinanews.com reported.
It was only found to be carrying a dead fetus after scientists started dissecting the 10.78-meter-long whale in nearby Huizhou on Thursday night.
The 2.64 meter long male fetus weights 110.5 kilograms – making up only 0.07 per cent of its mother’s 14.18-tonne weight.
A marine life expert taking part in an autopsy of the marine mammal, Tong Zhenhan, said it was a world first to find a whale fetus inside a dead whale.