COBQUECURA, Chile (Reuters) — A beached whale washed up Wednesday (December 28) on the shore of the central Chilean region of Pilicura.
The whale measures seven metres (23 metres) in length and weighs four tons.
The body of whale didn’t didn’t demonstrate any outward injuries. It washed up on shore in a natural preserve in the town of Cobquecura.
The image of the beached whale at sea has been visible for three days, and tourists have begun circulating the area taking photos.
“Surprisingly, because it’s not something you see often in the area, but you also don’t often see whales, and so it’s exciting for people who are visiting the site,” said tourist, Nicole Lagos.
“The arrival of a whale here is surprising. You don’t often see a whale here, but for me, it’s the first time seeing a whale, as I have never seen one before,” said another, Fabian
“For me it’s surprising that it beached here, but well, things like that happen in nature,” said Daniela.
Chilean officials from the Chilean National Fish Authority (Sernapesca) arrived on the scene to investigate the whale, and ruled out foul play.
Typically, whale season in the South American nation runs from December to March when populations of the mammal make their long migration from the warmer latitudes, where they mate and give birth in southern Chile.