Researchers identify carcass of sea creature

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A Sarawak Forestry photo handout of the ventral view of the skull. The mystery carcass was identified as an adult Short-finned pilot whale by the tooth socket indentation on the upper rostrum of the skull and the number of socket counts.

A Dec 28 2013 file photo of the carcass of an undertermined sea animal washed ashore at Pasir Panjang.

A Dec 28 2013 file photo of Pasir Panjang community leader Hadli Piee showing a section of the carcass.

KUCHING: The carcass of an unknown sea creature which was washed ashore at Pasir Panjang on Dec 28 last year has been identified as a Short-finned pilot whale Globicephalamacrohynchus.

The carcass was previously misidentified as a Bryde’s Whale Balaenopteraedeni. This was based on poor resolution photographs, but detailed examination of the skull has allowed researchers of Sarawak Forestry and Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation (IBEC) of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) to make the correct identification.

The species identification was made based on the presence of tooth sockets on the upper rostrum of the skull and the number of socket counts.

The condition of the very pronounced tooth sockets and wear and tear on the rostrum indicates that it was an adult whale. The Short-finned pilot whale is a marine mammal known to be present in tropical marine waters.

“The Short-finned pilot whale is listed as ‘Data Deficient’ in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species,” noted Sarawak Forestry managing director cum CEO Datu Ali Yusop.

“Sarawak Forestry has confirmed with the National Taskforce for Marine Mammal Stranding Network (NTMMSN) that this is the first ever record of Short-finned pilot whale in Sarawak.”

As the lead agency for the Marine Mammals Stranding Network (MMSN) in Sarawak, Sarawak Forestry promotes collaboration among other stakeholders, especially members of the NTMMSN, to ensure the conservation of marine animals.

The NTMMSN was officially launched on Oct 3 last year with the general objectives of providing quick and effective responses to rescue stranded or trapped marine mammals whilst carrying out research on the causes of marine mammal stranding.

The taskforce is also responsible for enhancing public awareness on marine mammal conservation.

The final four of the total 11 Marine Mammal Rescue Zones in Malaysia have been assigned to Sarawak, namely Zone 8 (Kuching, Samarahan and SriAman), Zone 9 (Sibu, Sarikei, Betong and Mukah), Zone 10 (Bintulu and Kapit) and Zone 11 (Miri and Limbang).

“Stranding, though a sad occurrence, provides valuable opportunities to increase scientific knowledge on marine mammals,” added Ali.

“They are key to understanding conservation needs as through these studies, we are able to get an indication of the health of our seas. It is also vital that appropriate response actions are undertaken when stranding occurs.”

He added that the discovery of the carcass at Pasir Panjang makes this the 16th species of marine mammals found in Sarawak.

“It is a shame that the record was not of one which was still living.”

Although the carcass was too decomposed to determine the cause of death for this animal, Cindy Peter of the Sarawak Dolphin Project in the Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation (IBEC) at Unimas said that accidental entanglement in fishing gear is one of the main human-related causes of mortality in marine mammals world-wide.

“Here in Kuching we have also examined carcasses of finless porpoises and Irrawaddy dolphins that were known to be trapped in fishing gear. It is important that fishermen know how to respond when they find dolphins trapped in their nets,” she said.

According to Ali, all marine mammals are listed as Totally Protected Species under the Wild Life Protection Ordinance 1998.

The local community, especially those living near water bodies, plays an important role in ensuring the safety of marine mammals.