TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Coast Guard dispatched rescue teams Monday after a stranded Blainville’s beaked whale was discovered near Green Island’s Shilang Snorkeling Area, with a Fraser’s dolphin also reported stranded in Taitung.
Residents discovered the whale and notified the Coast Guard and conservation authorities at about 9 a.m. Four vehicles and eight personnel responded to the scene and, following standard rescue procedures, covered the whale with wet towels and continuously monitored its vital signs, per CNA.
Blainville’s beaked whales feed primarily on squid and small fish and inhabit tropical waters worldwide. Adult males can reach at least 4.4 meters in length and weigh up to 800 kilograms.
The Ocean Conservation Administration said the species is rare in Taiwan and typically inhabits deep waters. Only a small number of strandings have previously been recorded in Taiwan.
A recreational fishing vessel later towed the whale back out to sea using ropes and a canvas sling, successfully releasing it into the wild. Crew members continued monitoring the whale’s condition afterward.
In a separate incident near Nantian Coastal Park, rescuers responded to a stranded juvenile Fraser’s dolphin. The dolphin died during rescue preparations before it could be returned to the ocean.
The dolphin will be transported to the Marine Biology and Cetacean Research Center at National Cheng Kung University for an autopsy to determine the cause of death, per CNA.
Fraser’s dolphins primarily inhabit warm waters deeper than 1,000 meters. Due to the steep underwater terrain off eastern Taiwan, the species is frequently spotted close to shore, with whale-watching operators in the Hualien-Taitung area reporting sighting rates of 20% to 30%.
The Coast Guard reminded the public that the Taitung coastline is home to abundant marine wildlife. Officials advised anyone encountering stranded whales or dolphins to help keep the animals upright and moist while recording their breathing and heartbeat.
Responders should avoid standing near the animals’ heads or tails, avoid pushing or pulling them, and keep noise levels low, the Coast Guard said. Authorities also urged the public to report strandings to the Coast Guard Administration’s 118 hotline so personnel can quickly respond to help protect Taiwan’s marine ecosystems.
