On a fin whale stranded at Someswara, South Kanara

A huge whale was observed floating near the shore at Ullal was dragged away from the shore into the sea for about 15-20 km and released by the trawler fishermen. But the whale was swept shoreward by strong waves and was stranded at Someswara beach which identified was Balaenoptera physalis. Morphometry were recorded and had Total length (tip of the lowerjaw to tipofthefluke) 1,402 cm Distance between flipper base to origin of fluke 1,037cm and Distance from origin of fluke to genito-anal slit 457cms. The whale was a female with prominent genital opening with maximum girth at the region of flippers.