A rare and somber discovery has been made on the coast of Comino, as the carcass of a 1.5-tonne whale washed ashore Monday morning. The incident has sparked significant interest, marking a departure from the usual marine sightings in the Maltese archipelago.
A Historic Stranding
Nature Trust Malta President Vincent Attard reported that the NGO began receiving public alerts about the mammal around 9 AM. According to Attard, this event is unprecedented in recent history; there have been no recorded whale strandings in the Maltese Islands for at least 30 years.
While dolphin strandings occur more frequently—with past cases documented in Buġibba, Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq, and Mellieħa—a whale of this magnitude is a highly unusual sight for local conservationists.
Preliminary Findings
Initial assessments suggest the creature is a Sperm Whale, a species currently classified as endangered within the Mediterranean region. However, a detailed investigation is required to confirm the species with certainty.
The carcass is reportedly in a severely decomposed state, leading experts to believe the whale has been dead for a considerable amount of time before drifting to the Comino shoreline. Authorities and Nature Trust officials are expected to monitor the site as they determine the next steps for examination and disposal.
