Humpback Whale Carcass on Perancak Beach, Jembrana, Reburied

The carcass of a humpback whale that had been buried on the coast of Perancak Village, Jembrana Regency, Bali, had to be reburied. This step was taken after the whale’s initial grave was eroded by seawater, causing the carcass to resurface. The reburial process took place on Thursday (16/7/2026) from 4:00 p.m. Wita until around 8:17 p.m. Wita in the evening. To anticipate a similar occurrence, the new burial location was moved approximately 200 metres to the west of the original site. “The burial activity was carried out until last night. It was buried in a location determined by the Village Head so that it would not be eroded by seawater again,” said Jembrana City Police Chief Ipda I Ngurah Agus Dwi Widiatmika when confirmed on Friday (17/7/2026). In addition to police assistance, the process of moving and burying the whale carcass was also aided by village officials and local community members who worked together at the site. After lasting several hours, the reburial process of the humpback whale carcass was finally completed in the evening. “The burial activity ended at 8:17 p.m. Wita safely, orderly, and smoothly,” Widiatmika stated. It was previously reported that the humpback whale carcass, which had been buried after being stranded on the coast of Perancak Beach, resurfaced on Thursday. The marine mammal was suspected to have risen to the surface after its burial location was eroded by the high tide. Observations at the site before evacuation showed the whale’s burial position was directly east of the original stranding location. At that time, only the tail section of the carcass remained embedded in the sand, while the rest of the body had surfaced and emitted a pungent, foul odour. Perancak Village Head I Nyoman Wijana confirmed that his office had received reports from residents regarding the whale carcass’s return to the beach surface before it was finally moved. “Reports from residents stated that the whale carcass reappeared on the beach surface because its burial location was eroded by the high tide,” Wijana said.