Another whale found dead at Mtwapa

Kilifi, Kenya: A whale was discovered dead at Mtwapa Creek along the Coastal Indian shoreline in Kilifi County on Friday.

The mammal estimated to weigh about 15 tonnes by wildlife experts, was moderately decomposed.

By Friday, it was not clear how it died, but officials from the Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) suspected it may have succumbed to an infection on a wound on its tail. This is the second whale found dead in the area within two months.

Mtwapa/ Maweni Turtle Conservation project officer Michael Mwarua, said the mammal was spotted dead at the area before officers from the KWS were called in. Mwaura said KWS officers viewed the creature and left and by the time of going to press, they had not returned to the site.

“The whale was discovered by the fishermen and they reported to KWS. But there is a need for a detailed study to determine the cause of death given this is a second one that has died in the area in two months,” said Mwaura.

He said the stench from the mammal is causing a health hazard to the villagers and people who use the beach to swim or to enjoy the sea breeze.

“We are calling  concerned officials to do something so that we can continue enjoying our breeze at the beach,” said Ms Tamara Mwende, a local resident.

Fishermen have, in the past, raised concerns on the high death of the sea mammals in unclear circumstances and concerned institutions to investigate the cause of mysterious deaths. Local chief officer in the department of health Dr Timothy Malingi, said that since the matter involved several government agencies, they would soon meet to deliberate on the way forward to conserve the whales.