NTT Police Chief Awards Police Rescuers of Stranded Pilot Whales
Kupang (ANTARA) - The NTT Police Chief, Irjen Pol Rudi Darmoko, awarded 34 Indonesian National Police personnel in Rote Ndao who were involved in the evacuation of approximately 55 pilot whales stranded on the coastal area of the region on 10 March 2026.
“Members who work sincerely and help the community must be rewarded. This serves as motivation for other personnel to continue doing good,” he said in Rote Ndao on Wednesday.
The award, according to him, is a form of appreciation for their concern towards the environment and the community.
The 34 police personnel who received the award consisted of 18 members from the Rote Barat Daya Police Sector and 16 Brimob personnel who were directly involved in the pilot whale rescue process.
The stranding of several pilot whales occurred previously on 9 March 2026. The incident took place at Mbadokai Beach, Deranitan Village, Rote Barat Daya Subdistrict, Rote Ndao Regency.
In the incident, police apparatus along with residents and volunteers quickly moved to carry out the evacuation to return the marine mammals to their habitat.
They became the first to successfully rescue 34 pilot whale mammals out of a total of 55 that were stranded. The rest were found dead on the beach shore.
The rescue efforts were carried out collectively, facing limitations in equipment and coastal terrain conditions, but some whales were successfully directed back to the sea.
The Police Chief emphasised that the award is a form of institutional recognition for the humanitarian work carried out by members in the field.
He added that the presence of the National Police is not only in maintaining security, but also in responding to humanitarian and environmental issues.
In addition to handing over the awards, the Police Chief also provided one genset unit to the residents of Airani Hamlet, Tenalai Village, to support the community’s electricity needs.
During the visit, the Police Chief also inspected the national salt development area in Rote Ndao as part of support for the region’s strategic programme, which is expected to improve the welfare of coastal communities.