Reseachers start dissecting sperm whale carcass found off Jurong Island

Researchers from the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum have started to dissect the sperm whale carcass. PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM YOUTUBE
The sperm whale carcass being pulled onto land at Tuas Marine Transfer Station. PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI FOR THE STRAITS TIMES
The carcass of a sperm whale was found floating near Jurong Island on Friday morning. PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI FOR THE STRAITS TIMES
The carcass of a sperm whale was found floating near Jurong Island on Friday morning, July 10, 2015. PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI FOR THE STRAITS TIMES
The carcass of a sperm whale was found floating near Jurong Island on Friday morning. PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI FOR THE STRAITS TIMES
The carcass of a sperm whale was found floating near Jurong Island on Friday morning. PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI FOR THE STRAITS TIMES
The carcass of a sperm whale was found floating near Jurong Island on Friday morning. ST PHOTO: AUDREY TAN
The sperm whale carcass at Tuas Marine Transfer Station on July 10, 2015. PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI FOR THE STRAITS TIMES
The sperm whale carcass at Tuas Marine Transfer Station on July 10, 2015. PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI FOR THE STRAITS TIMES
The sperm whale carcass at Tuas Marine Transfer Station on July 10, 2015. PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI FOR THE STRAITS TIMES

SINGAPORE - Researchers from the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum started dissecting the sperm whale carcass at the Tuas Marine Transfer Station on Saturday morning.

They will try to reach the internal organs and gut by cutting through the outer layers of fat and muscle. Before starting the dissection, the researchers inserted metal tubes into the carcass to release gases that have built up in the abdominal area.

Their work will include taking samples of its muscle tissue, which contains precious genetic information, and studying the contents of its stomach.

The museum's scientific officer, Mr Foo Maosheng - one of the team members - said: "By studying its stomach contents, we can possibly tell where it has been feeding and at what depths."

The 10m-long sperm whale carcass was found floating off Jurong Island on Friday morning.

The species had never previously been found in the waters around Singapore or peninsular Malaysia.

Oil industry worker Mr Jailani Salleh told The Straits Times that he spotted the dead mammal under a jetty at around 7.45am and posted a video of it on Facebook.

Mr Marcus Chua, curator of mammals and birds at the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, was informed and told The Straits Times it was an "exciting find". It is to be studied by scientists.

The museum will now work to preserve the specimen, believed to be a young adult. A museum volunteer then informed Mr Chua about the incident at about 9.30am.

At about 2pm, after arrangements were made with the authorities to enter restricted areas and to secure equipment and boats, Mr Chua and eight of his colleagues were deployed to secure the carcass. The cause of death has not yet been determined.

When The Straits Times visited the scene, blood was pouring from its fin. However, Mr Chua said the injury could have been sustained after it died. It was too early to conclude that the wound was the cause of its death, as it could have been afflicted posthumously.

The whale appeared to have been dead for several days because of the rot on its body and tongue. With the help and assistance of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, the whale was towed across the West Johor Strait on a three-hour journey to the Tuas Marine Transfer Station for further examination.

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It will be left there at the restricted location for around a week while researchers prepare the skeleton and collect data.

The whale is estimated to weigh between seven and 10 tonnes. Museum conservator Kate Pocklington said the next step is to remove the skin, internal organs and fat from the whale, which is estimated to weigh three to five tonnes.

Since its bones are porous, researchers must figure out the best way to remove the oil from them while preserving the skeleton, which is important as it will tell researchers more about its length and anatomy.

Ms Isabelle Tan, 23, a dolphin researcher and campaigns executive from the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society, said: "It is encouraging to know that this species of whale was found in our waters, especially as people often think Singapore has no marine life.

"The sightings are a good reminder that they are there and there is a need to protect the marine environment.

"We urge members of the public to continue reporting dolphin and whale sighting to Acres."

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