A pygmy sperm whale that died on Sunday afternoon after washing ashore on a beach in New Taipei City had been released off Keelung earlier that morning, a rescue team said.
After examining its features, rescuers from the Marine Animal Rescue Network (MARN) confirmed it was the same whale found stranded on Chushueili Beach (出水里) in Miaoli’s Yuanli Township (苑裡) on Saturday.
It was released near Keelung the next morning, but again washed ashore that afternoon.
Photo courtesy of the Ocean Conservation Administration
It showed signs of life when rescuers arrived to help resuscitate it on a beach in New Taipei City’s Wanli District (萬里).
The whale stopped breathing and was pronounced dead at 4:56pm, MARN staff said.
When it was found on Saturday, an examination by veterinarians showed that it had abrasions on its body caused by fishing nets, while a blood test indicated it had sustained internal injuries, the Ocean Conservation Administration wrote on Facebook.
“The whale was sensitive and resisted being handled, so we could not treat it properly. Since the rescue team could not give it further medical treatment, they decided to quickly release it back to the ocean, hoping it could recover on its own,” it said. “However, it was tragic to learn it later died.”
An autopsy is to be performed to determine a cause of death, the rescue team said.
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked Palau for its continued support of Taiwan's international participation, as Taipei was once again excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA) currently taking place in Switzerland. "Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan" in the UN General Assembly, the WHO and other UN-affiliated agencies, Lai said during a bilateral meeting with visiting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. "We have been profoundly touched by these endorsements," Lai said, praising the Pacific island nation's firm support as "courageous." Lai's remarks came as Taiwan was excluded for the ninth consecutive year from the WHA, which is being held in
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man
RSS