Blue Whale Entangled in Fishing Net | Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda | Sri Lanka

This is an adult pygmy blue whale entangled in a fishing net. The net was wrapped around the base of the whale's fluke, with substantial net and rope trailing behind. Rope stretched up both sides of the whale and appeared to be caught in the whale's mouth. I came across this whale in shallow, green, murky water, approximately 60 meters depth. The whale was still able to swim, though it appeared exhausted. It did not fluke, and the netting was not visible from the surface. Sadly, this whale most likely died shortly after this encounter.

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Filename: entangled-pygmy-blue-whale-fishing-net-balaenoptera-musculus-sri-lanka-201301-0161.tif
Copyright: Copyright Tony Wu. All rights reserved. No reproduction in any form without prior written permission
Image Size: 5087x3391 / 49.4MB; https://www.photoshelter.com/support/license#rm; https://www.tony-wu.com/contact-tony-wu; Whale Blue Whale Animalia Chordata Mammalia Cetacea Mysticeti Balaenopteridae Balaenoptera musculus Pygmy Blue Whale Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda Balaenoptera musculus indica Cetartiodactyla Baleen Whale CITES Appendix 1 Endangered: IUCN Red List Filter Feeder Marine Mammal Mysticete Rorqual Environment Fishing Entanglement Pollution Indian Ocean Sri Lanka Mirissa
Contained in galleries: Blue Whales, Marine Life | Sri Lanka, Dead Marine Life, Garbage and Trash

This is an adult pygmy blue whale entangled in a fishing net. The net was wrapped around the base of the whale's fluke, with substantial net and rope trailing behind. Rope stretched up both sides of the whale and appeared to be caught in the whale's mouth. I came across this whale in shallow, green, murky water, approximately 60 meters depth. The whale was still able to swim, though it appeared exhausted. It did not fluke, and the netting was not visible from the surface. Sadly, this whale most likely died shortly after this encounter.