VIDEO: Carcass of rare Bryde's Whale found in Dubai waters

A dead Bryde whale with a length of over 12 metres and weighing 15 tonnes was found by DP World in Dubai waters.

The whale was found dead in the Jebel Ali Canal by the DP World emergency team that moved the animal into the port.

The male Bryde’s whale’s body revealed no clear evidence of marine debris entanglement or ship strikes, nor was any trace of food in the stomachs.

However, a number of parasites were observed in several organs.

Thanks to the cooperation between the Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA) in Sharjah, and Zayed University, a complete necropsy of the whale carcass was successfully conducted, and valuable samples were collected.

The collected samples will be used to check the condition of the various organs, toxicological parameters, in addition to the animal's genetic profile.

It will help to better understand the condition and ecology of this species in the region, and ultimately support the conservation of these majestic marine creatures.

Officials have a closer look at the Bryde's Whale.

Hana Saif Al Suwaidi, Chairperson of the Environment and Protected Areas Authority, said: "This work on the autopsy of the Bryde’s whale was part of a programme launched by the Environment and Protected Areas Authority named Sharjah Stranding Response Programme.  

“The purpose of the necropsy is to identify the causes of death and for other scientific research purposes. The Bryde’s whales have a smooth bodies with dark gray skin on top, and white skin on the bottom, and they are found only in the Indo-Pacific region.”

The Bryde’s whale is rare, but they are widespread in the Arabian Gulf and the Arabian Sea, and two types of Bryde’s whales have currently been identified, with one of them possibly containing two different subspecies.

Historically, Bryde's whales targeted the Arab region in the Soviet (former Soviet Union) whaling operations, which were active until the mid-1960s, and recorded the killing of up to 849 whales, but there is no estimate of the current status of this species and its numbers in the region and in the waters of the United Arab Emirates.