Sperm whale carcass on Totobo Beach, Kolaka, to be pulled out to the open sea

Kendari (ANTARA) - The Coastal and Sea Resource Management Agency (BPSPL) in the Southeast Sulawesi region (Sultra) will soon evacuate a stranded sperm whale carcass on Totobo Village Beach, Kolaka Regency, by towing it out to the open sea.

Jufri, the head of BPSPL Sultra Working Area, contacted in Kendari on Wednesday, said that pulling the carcass into the open sea was intended to minimise the impact of odour pollution on nearby settlements.

‘The plan is to tow the whale carcass to the middle of the sea. There, it will be tethered using an anchor in the shallow gusung area so that it does not drift back to the mainland,’ he said.

He explained that the evacuation process is currently awaiting the availability of a vessel with a large engine capacity.

The agency continues to coordinate with the local Environment Office (DLH) for the procurement of a towing vessel. If the fleet is available, the whale carcass will be moved promptly so that natural decomposition can occur in the open sea.

‘It has been two days since the whale carcass has been on the beach. As time passes, the rotting odour will inevitably become noticeable. Evacuation to the open sea is the only solution to reduce odour reaching settlements,’ he said.

The agency does not have a specific odour-mitigation measure while the carcass remains on the shoreline, so expediting the evacuation becomes the top priority for the field team.

To date, authorities continue to monitor conditions at Totobo Beach while ensuring technical readiness for the pull to avoid new obstacles during the evacuation process.