The Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department received a referral from 1823 this morning regarding the discovery of a suspected whale carcass in Ham Tin Wan, Sai Kung.

The department's staff, together with personnel from Ocean Park and Ocean Park Conservation Foundation immediately attended the scene for investigation.

 
Preliminary assessment indicates that the carcass measured approximately 11m in length. Due to the severe decomposition, a necropsy cannot be further conducted to determine the cause of death. Staff are working to dispose of the carcass and clean up the area as quickly as possible, with completion expected tomorrow.

Meanwhile, people should avoid approaching the area to prevent hindering the disposal process and causing danger.

The deceased whale was not a local species. It is preliminarily believed to be a baleen whale. Based on the degree of decomposition of the carcass, it is estimated to have been dead for some time. It is believed that the carcass drifted into the waters of Ham Tin Wan from the open seas.

According to records, baleen whales are distributed almost globally across oceans, with different species inhabiting distinct waters. Baleen whales typically forage in the cold, high-latitude waters around the Arctic and Antarctic during the summer. In the winter, they migrate to warmer, low-latitude or tropical waters for breeding and nurturing their young.

The department urges the public to report any whale sightings or stranded cetaceans immediately by calling 1823 or using the 1823 mobile application.