KKP Burial Of Stranded Whale In Gili Trawangan

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) through the Kupang National Water Conservation Area (BKKPN) buried a stranded whale dead in Gili Trawangan, Gili Indah Village, WINNing District, North Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara Province.

"The Kupang BKKPN Rapid Response Team has coordinated with local agencies to handle this whale," said the Director General of Marine and Marine Management (PKRL) of the KKPVictor Gustaaf Manoppo as reported by ANTARA, Friday, November 3.

Victor explained that whales are marine mammals that are fully protected by the state based on Government Regulation Number 7 of 1999 concerning Plant and Animal Types.

Also the Decree of the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Number 79 of 2018 concerning the National Action Plan for the Conservation of Marine mammals. Therefore, all forms of use that are extractive to whales are prohibited legally.

"Looking at the condition, the team must immediately take action according to the applicable SOP," he said.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Kupang BKKPN, Imam Fauzi, explained that the type of stranded marine mammal is a pygmy killer whale (Feresa attenuata).

"From the results of identification and morphometric measurements carried out by the team in the field, it is known that the whale carcass has a body length of 123 cm and is female," he said.

"Judging from his fresh condition, the whale carcass found was in the condition of Code 2, which was stranded and died," he continued.

Information about stranded marine mammals was first obtained from the Gili Trawangan community on the coast in front of the Ombak Sunset Hotel, Gili Trawangan Island.

This information was then forwarded to the BKKPN Kupang working area (wilker) of the Gili Air Island Conservation Area, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan (Gili Matra) for the collection of materials and information (pulbaket).

The observation showed the close part of the whale's tail was cut perpendicularly. This possibility was caused by hard and sharp objects, allegedly hit by the ship's propeller. In addition, the team also found scratches on other parts of the body," he continued.

In addition to observing, the team also took samples to determine the cause of death of the marine mammal. Furthermore, whale carcasses were buried near the stranded location.