JEMBRANA, Bali — A dramatic rescue effort is underway on Bali’s west coast after a giant whale became stranded on Perancak Beach in Jembrana, drawing crowds of residents who have spent hours trying to return the massive marine mammal to deeper water.
Despite the community’s efforts, the whale repeatedly drifted back onto the shoreline as the tide receded.
“We were five people pushing the whale back into the sea earlier today,” local resident Nengah Padmasana said at the scene on Tuesday.
“But after we managed to get it farther offshore, it stranded itself again and ended up back where it is now.”
Whale Still Alive
As of 1:30 p.m. local time, the whale was still alive while local authorities, volunteers and residents continued searching for a way to save it.
An earlier rescue attempt at around 11:45 a.m. was unsuccessful because the tide was too low to allow the animal to swim back into deeper water.
Witnesses said residents have continued working together in the hope that rising tides will provide another opportunity to guide the whale safely back to sea.
Authorities Secure the Area
Police have cordoned off the area as increasing numbers of curious onlookers gathered along the beach.
Officials said wildlife authorities had been notified and were expected to assess the situation before determining the safest rescue strategy.
“For now, we’re securing the area while waiting for the relevant authorities to arrive,” local police officer Suparta said.
“We have not yet been able to identify the whale’s species.”
Strandings Are Rare but Challenging
Although whale strandings occasionally occur across Indonesia’s vast coastline, rescuing large marine mammals is often difficult. Success depends on several factors, including the animal’s condition, tidal movements and the availability of specialist marine rescue teams.
Authorities have urged members of the public to avoid approaching the whale too closely so rescuers can work safely while minimizing additional stress on the animal.
The rescue effort was continuing at the time of publication.
#balianimal | source: Detik
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