PHUKET: Local residents found a large dead whale floating in Laem Sai bay, south of Koh Racha, on Saturday.
Sarit Chandee, from the network for marine resources conservation of Koh Racha Yai, reported the discovery to the Phuket fisheries office.
The Phuket Marine Biological Centre of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources on Sunday sent experts by boat to Laem Sai bay to examine the decomposing carcass.
The carcass — about 17 metres long and weighing an estimated 3 tonnes — was towed to Phuket island. The whale is believed to have been dead for three or four weeks.
It is now being examined by veterinarians at the Sireetarn Marine Endangered Animals Rescue Centre in Phuket to find the cause of death and identify the species.
