Baby whale found dead on beach in southern Israel

Nature and Parks Authority say severe tar pollution in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea looks to be the reason of the fin whale calf's death; 'we will find those responsible and see justice done' warns environmental protection minister
Associated Press, Ynet|
Israeli officials said Thursday that the carcass of a 10-meter-long (33 feet) whale was found Thursday on the beach of the Holot Nitzanim Reserve south of Tel Aviv.
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  • David Halfon of the Nature and Parks Authority said the animal was a fin whale calf about half the size of an adult, which can grow to more than 20 meters (about 66 feet) long.
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    ההערכה היא שמדובר בגור של לווייתן מצוי
    ההערכה היא שמדובר בגור של לווייתן מצוי
    The fin whale calf's carcass
    (Photo: Nature and Parks Authority)
    He and other officials said it wasn't clear what caused the death, but they said the water nearby is polluted, including with tar.
    "It's a very sad event," Halfon said of the whale's death and appearance in the Nitzanim Reserve.
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    A whale on Nitzanim Beach
    A whale on Nitzanim Beach
    A whale on Nitzanim Beach
    (Photo: Ynet)
    Aviad Scheinin of the Morris Kahn Marine Research Station said a team will take samples from the animal to try to determine a cause of death.
    Shaul Goldstein, CEO of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, said a "tar pollution" incident was plaguing area waters in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, and called for an investigation and prosecution of those responsible for the pollution.
    4 View gallery
    A whale on Nitzanim Beach
    A whale on Nitzanim Beach
    A whale on Nitzanim Beach
    (Photo: Ynet)
    "The tar pollution incident is a very large and very serious event that has caused serious environmental damage. We call on the Ministry of Environmental Protection to investigate the incident and find the culprits," said Goldstein. "The sea pollution we are seeing today is one of the worst we have ever known in Israel."
    Environmental Protection Minister Gila Gamliel also referred to the pollution and said that "we will find those responsible and see justice done."
    4 View gallery
    גילה גמליאל
    גילה גמליאל
    Environmental Protection Minister Gila Gamliel
    (Photo: Hadar Yoavian )
    While the source of the pollution remains unknown, it seems that its origins is a vessel that passed off the coast of Israel.
    A similar whale washed up dead in the area in 2016.
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