Press "Enter" to skip to content

One of two pygmy sperm whales released at Holbox found dead

Holbox, Q.R. — Two pygmy sperm whales that were located off the island of Holbox, were returned to the sea. The two whales, which are deep-sea mammals, were discovered landed in shallow waters just off the island Thursday.

Juan Manuel Rico Santana, a Holbox environmentalist, said that after being sighted, the National Commission for Protected Natural Areas (Conanp) was notified. Personnel from the federal agency arrived, who together with volunteers, helped to rescue the whales.

He says that they are not equipped to protect them, so it was decided to return both to deeper waters. The whales, which were 1.7 meters in length, were taken into deeper waters.

Unfortunately, one of the whales was found dead Friday. “It is not a very common species. Nine years ago there was one that ended up dead here, and now, there have been two. Sadly one left and the other ended up dead,” he commented. The remains have been left to the federal environmental agency Conanp for burial.