The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) received a police report yesterday evening (September 4) regarding the discovery of a suspected whale carcass in Mirs Bay. The AFCD staff, together with personnel from Ocean Park Hong Kong and Ocean Park Conservation Foundation, Hong Kong (OPCFHK), immediately attended the scene for investigation.
 
     Upon preliminary assessment by a veterinarian of Ocean Park response team, the whale carcass measured approximately 10 metres in length. Due to the severe decomposition, the species could not be identified currently, though it is preliminarily believed to be a baleen whale. Given the advanced state of decomposition, further necropsy to determine the cause of death was not possible. Staff will continue processing the carcass today, with completion expected this evening.
 
     The deceased whale was not a local species. 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 Mirs Bay from outside area with ocean currents.
 
     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.
 
     To enhance co-operation in marine ecological protection in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Hong Kong and Shenzhen signed the Memorandum of Understanding on the Joint Rescue Mechanism for Large Aquatic Wild Animals on August 15, to jointly safeguard the marine environment and biodiversity in adjacent waters. In this incident, the AFCD maintained close communication with Shenzhen authorities, promptly exchanging relevant information to facilitate follow-up actions.
 
     The AFCD urges the public to report any whale sightings or stranded cetaceans immediately by calling 1823 or using the 1823 mobile application. Members of the public are reminded to maintain a safe distance from cetaceans, refrain from approaching or disturbing them, and prioritise personal safety to avoid dangerous situations.

Ends/Friday, September 5, 2025
Issued at HKT 22:23

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