A juvenile fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) has died after becoming stranded near Motobomba beach in the Islay province of Arequipa. Despite attempts by local residents and fishermen to return the animal to the sea, its health deteriorated due to the time spent out of the water.
Local authorities noted that pushing the animal could have caused further injury, as its organs were already damaged by its position on land. Specialists from the Instituto del Mar del Perú (Imarpe) are on-site to monitor the situation and conduct scientific studies to determine the exact causes of the stranding.
While causes for such incidents can be natural, such as strong currents, they can also be anthropogenic, including vessel strikes or disorientation caused by excessive noise.