Giant Sperm Whale Washes Ashore on Israeli Beach, Its Size Leaves Onlookers in Awe

An aerial photo shows the carcass of a sperm whale being examined by professionals before an autopsy is performed, on Zikim beach, near the Gaza Strip in southern Israel, Tuesday. (REUTERS/Ilan Rosenberg)

The death of the sperm whale has prompted marine experts to examine the carcass in order to determine the cause of death. (REUTERS/Ilan Rosenberg)

According to Reuters on Thursday (26/2/2026), the whale was found dead in the morning. This prompted authorities to close off the area while environmental inspectors arrived at the scene. (REUTERS/Ilan Rosenberg)

In the photo, a team from the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, researchers from the University of Haifa, and members of the Delphis Association began performing a necropsy at the scene. (REUTERS/Ilan Rosenberg)

According to the Delphis Association, the whale was confirmed to be a sperm whale with a length of 12 metres, prompting researchers to conduct a necropsy and take samples for laboratory testing to help determine the cause of death, but the cause is not yet known for certain. (REUTERS/Ilan Rosenberg)

According to researchers from the Delphis Association, eight sperm whale carcasses have been documented along the coast of Israel since monitoring began, including this latest case. (REUTERS/Ilan Rosenberg)

The Mediterranean population was classified as an endangered species in 2021 by the “International Union for Conservation of Nature”, and experts say that this population is genetically distinct from the Atlantic population and faces threats including entanglement in fishing nets, seismic surveys for gas exploration, and plastic pollution. (REUTERS/Ilan Rosenberg)