Seven-Meter Humpback Whale Strands and Dies on Jembrana’s Perancak Beach

RRI.CO.ID, Jembrana - A humpback whale measuring over seven meters in length died on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, after washing ashore on Perancak Beach in Jembrana Regency, Bali, despite a grueling multi-agency rescue effort to return the marine mammal to the open sea.

"All relevant agencies, including environmental activists and the community, worked hard to save the whale since it was discovered. However, because it failed to return to the sea, the animal died," said Head of the Water and Air Police Unit (Satpolairud) of the Jembrana Police, Assistant Commissioner of Police I Putu Suparta, on Tuesday, July 13, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

The distressed whale was first spotted by local fishermen from Perancak Village at around 10.45 a.m. local time. In response, a joint emergency task force was mobilized, comprising the National Police, the Navy (TNI AL), veterinary teams from the Indonesian Animal Network (JSI), the Gondol Marine Aquaculture Research and Fisheries Extension Agency (BBRBLPP), and the Denpasar Coastal and Marine Resources Management Agency (BPSPL).

The rescue teams deployed various methods to guide the heavy mammal back into deeper waters. While the whale initially managed to move toward the open sea, it was repeatedly pushed back onto the shallows by the surf, eventually succumbing and passing away at around 3.00 p.m. local time.

Following its death, the veterinary team conducted a biological identification and health assessment before burying the massive carcass directly on the beach using heavy machinery.

Suparta noted that the coordination and evacuation process moved swiftly, with emergency responders arriving on-site shortly after receiving reports from the public.

"Handling large marine mammals like whales requires cross-agency collaboration to ensure the entire process runs safely, effectively, and in accordance with conservation principles," he explained.

To prevent future delays in marine wildlife emergencies, Head of the Public Relations Section of the Jembrana Police, Police Inspector Second Class I Putu Budi Arnaya, urged the coastal community to immediately contact emergency authorities if they spot stranded, protected marine species. Residents can reach the police department directly by dialing the national 110 hotline. ***