Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Dec 8: A sperm whale which washed ashore near Beleswar river mouth off Astarang December 3 had been shifted to Keuntajangha for autopsy, but the post-mortem is yet to be taken up by veterinarians.
Contrary to the tall claims made by forest officials, the giant mammal was fenced by a porous plastic net and a number of locals managed to sneak through it and were found extracting oil from the carcass.
The locals had mobbed the carcass, stabbed it profusely in a bid to extract blood and oil from it. Orissa POST saw bunches of village women collecting body fluids into small containers and bottles from the wounds of the animal.
Speaking to this correspondent, a local seeking anonymity, said the extracts of whale have medicinal value and are useful for the humans.
The forest guard, who was a mute spectactor to the happenings around the dead animal for the past four days, said he had put all his efforts to keep people away from the dead mammal, but with little success. Villagers from nearby hutments thronged the place to collect the fluids.
The 32-feet whale, which was suspected to have been injured by a ship before its death, was expected to be examined by veterinarians Sunday. The postmortem was postponed several times.
The giant fish has started decaying and worms are devouring the carcass. The unbearable stench of the dead animal seemed to have kept the forest and veterinary officials at bay.
Puri forest ranger Amreshnath Pradhan told this newspaper that experts from the Regional Museum of Natural History (RMNH) have arrived Monday to examine the dead whale.
“An eight-member team from RMNH has visited the site. The team will slice the whale body and collect the bones,” said Pradhan.
“The exercise will be carried out for eight days beginning December 9. We will accompany the team and extend our support. Vets are expected to conduct the autopsy,” assured Pradhan.