Something must be happening in Terengganu as there have been several strange appearances of animals in the state, some of them being spotted in this region for the very first time. First, orca whales, second, tigers, now short finned pilot whales!
On 24th July, a group of short finned pilot whales, also known by their scientific name, globicephala macrorhynchus, were found in the waters of Besut, Terengganu near Perhentian Island about thirty kilometers from the beach.
For illustration purposes | Source: Pixels
According to Astro Awani, this was recorded as the first time this species of whale has gone through Terengganu waters
Marine Mammal Branch chief, Mohd Tamimi Ali Ahmad, of the Fisheries Research Institute (FRI) in Rantau Abang said that the mammals were using the South China Sea as a migration route, and were discovered by a group of fishermen last Wednesday (24th July).
A 40-second footage was captured of the creatures swimming in the sea in groups of about 10 to 50. The size of an adult short finned pilot whale is estimated to be about three to seven meters long with a weight of one to three tons, while a calf weighs about 60 to 500kg.
“The short finned pilot whale usually lives and hunts in a population group of about 10 to 50. There are also some populations that can reach up to 200,” Tamimi said, adding that this species of whale are predators in the food chain of the ocean’s ecosystem as they hunt sea creatures like fish, squid, turtles, and seabirds.
“Terengganu’s waters have many oysters which is probably why the South China Sea is part of their migration route.”
Source: Facebook
Tamimi then related that many short-finned pilot whales appeared in the waters off California, United States when there was a population of squids. However, when the squid population decreased, the whales migrated to a new place.
He then added that short-finned pilot whales are listed one of the endangered species in Malaysia. Previously, short-finned pilot whales were found stranded and dead in Sarawak, 2013 and in Labuan, 2015.
Watch the video here:
PAUS PILOT SIRIP PENDEK MELALUI PERAIRAN PULAU PERHENTIAN BESUT TERENGGANU Video berdurasi 40 saat ini menunjukan sekumpulan Paus Pilot Sirip Pendek “Short Finned Pilot Whale” atau nama saintifiknya (Globicephala macrorhynchus) yang sedang berenang berhampiran Pulau Perhentian di perairan Besut Terengganu.Kejadian ini sempat dirakam oleh beberapa orang nelayan yang sedang memancing pada 24 Julai 2019, dan disahkan oleh En. Mohd Tamimi bin Ali Ahmad, Ketua Cawangan Mamalia Marin, FRI Rantau Abang, Jabatan Perikanan Malaysia.Dipercayai populasi mamalia marin tersebut menjadikan Laut China Selatan sebagai sebahagian laluan migrasi mereka. Antara saiz yang dianggarkan bagi kumpulan ini adalah 3 – 7 meter dengan anggaran berat 1,000 – 3,000 kilogram bagi dewasa, dan 1 – 3 meter dengan anggaran berat 60 – 500 kilogram bagi anak. Jangka hayat Paus Pilot Sirip Pendek ini antara 40 tahun dan boleh mencapai sehingga 45 tahun. Mengikut rekod yang terdapat di FRI Rantau Abang, Jabatan Perikanan Malaysia, Paus Pilot Sirip Pendek ini tidak pernah melalui perairan negeri ini dan 24 Julai 2019 merupakan rekod pertama paus ini muncul di perairan Terengganu. Kali terakhir Paus Pilot Sirip Pendek ini pernah direkodkan dan terdampar mati adalah di Sarawak pada tahun 2013 dan di Labuan pada tahun 2015. Paus Pilot Sirip Pendek adalah tersenarai dalam jadual mamalia marin, antara salah satu spesies marin terancam di Malaysia. Jabatan Perikanan Malaysia melindungi spesies-spesies ikan marin terancam ini melalui penguatkuasaan Seksyen 27, Akta Perikanan 1985 mengenai Mamalia Akuatik atau Penyu di Perairan Perikanan Malaysia dalam Peraturan-Peraturan Perikanan (Pengawalan Spesies Ikan Yang Terancam) 1999 (Pindaan) 2019. Di peringkat antarabangsa Paus Pilot Sirip Pendek ini dilindungi dibawah International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) antara spesies marin terancam di dunia. Sekiranya anda menemui spesies marin terancam sama ada masih hidup atau telah mati, sila hubungi mana-mana Pejabat Perikanan Daerah atau Pejabat Perikanan Negeri atau Institut Penyelidikan Perikanan terdekat atau FRI RANTAU ABANG dengan segera.Tindakan pantas anda boleh menyelamatkan nyawa spesies marin terancam sama ada masih hidup ia boleh dilepaskan segera ke laut lepas, atau jika telah mati ia perlu diuruskan dengan prosidur-prosidur tertentu. #mydof #penerajuperikanan #tamanlautkhazanahnegara #moa #ourfoodourfutureDr. Mahathir bin Mohamad Dr Ismail Bakar Salahuddin Ayub Sim Tze Tzin 沈志勤 Kementerian Pertanian & Industri Asas TaniKrdt: jabatan perikanan
Posted by Ain Aquaculture Sdn Bhd – 678965-K on Thursday, July 25, 2019
Okay, this is getting really strange. Do you think you know the reason why all these animals have been appearing in Terengganu so suddenly? Let us know in the comments below!
Also read: Two Orca Whales Were Spotted Swimming in Peninsular Malaysia Waters For The First Time Ever!
