Whale carcass found washed up on Ngu Island

(Baonghean.vn) – A dead whale (commonly called Mr. Whale by fishermen) washed ashore was discovered by fishermen in Xuan Loc hamlet (Nghi Xuan commune, Nghi Loc) and buried according to traditional customs.

The whale discovered by fishermen weighed nearly 8kg. Photo: Thien Thien.

Accordingly, in the early morning of March 13, fishermen Nguyen Van Cong and Pham Thi Dung (Xuan Loc hamlet, Nghi Xuan commune) went fishing in the Ngu island area but did not catch much. At around 8 am the same day, Cong and his wife decided to go to Ngu island to pick up discarded cans left by tourists and came across a dead whale.

Fishermen in Xuan Loc hamlet gathered and respectfully buried the whale. Photo: Thien Thien.

Mr. Cong recounted that this whale weighed about 8kg, its entire body was shiny black, its head and tail had been peeled off, it seemed to have died a few days ago. Immediately, he and his wife rowed the boat back to shore and asked everyone in the village to help bury the whale right next to the beach in Xuan Loc village. On the afternoon of March 13, many fishermen in Xuan Loc village gathered together to solemnly bury the whale.

Mr. Cong and his wife (wearing red mourning scarves) mourned the whale for two years according to the custom of coastal fishermen. Photo: Thien Thien.

In 30 years of going to sea, this is also the first time Mr. Cong and his wife have encountered a whale stranded on the shore.

According to the beliefs of the fishermen here, Whale is worshiped by fishermen and considered as a sea god. The discovery of Whale by Xuan Loc fishermen on the shore is considered by fishermen to be a sign of good luck when fishing at sea and in the lives of the people in this area. And the person who discovers Whale by the shore, that family will mourn the Whale for 2 years.

Thien Thien