Rescued once, stranded again: False killer whale dies at Sarawak beach

Sarawak Forestry said necropsy findings showed a female false killer whale found stranded at Pueh Beach, Sematan that died on October 3, 2026 that was possibly caused by insufficient food and heat stress or heat stroke. — Picture from Facebook/Sarawak Forestry Corporation

First Published: Sunday, 04 Oct 2026 10:25 AM MYT

KUCHING, Oct 4 — A false killer whale died yesterday after becoming stranded twice along the Pueh coastline in Sematan.

Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) general manager Abang Arabi Abang Aimran said the adult female marine mammal was initially rescued and released back into the sea with assistance from the Lundu/Sematan District Civil Defence Force, Royal Malaysia Police and members of the public.

“However, at about 9am, SFC received information from local fishermen that the marine mammal had stranded again near the Pueh Youth Camp Beach area.

“The animal was found in a weak condition and eventually died at about 2pm,” he said in a statement.

Abang Arabi, who is also SFC Sarawak Wildlife controller, said based on its external morphology and number of teeth, the marine mammal was identified as a false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens), measuring 3.85 metres in length with a body girth of 1.77 metres.

He said SFC subsequently carried out standard operating procedures for stranded marine animals and conducted a necropsy on the carcass.

The examination found shark bite marks on the animal, while its stomach contained very little material mixed with sand.

“This indicates that the animal may not have been able to obtain sufficient food before becoming stranded,” he said.

Based on the necropsy findings, Abang Arabi said the animal’s death was believed to be linked to complications arising from the stranding, including possible circulatory failure caused by heat stress or heat stroke.

Nine SFC personnel, assisted by six residents of Kampung Pueh, were involved in the operation.

Biometric specimens were also collected for SFC’s DNA database for future reference.

Abang Arabi said all marine mammal species, including dolphins, whales and dugongs, are classified as Totally Protected Animals under the Wildlife Protection Ordinance 1998.

He urged members of the public not to handle stranded, injured or dead wildlife themselves, but to immediately report such cases to SFC through its hotline or the nearest SFC Kuching Regional Office.

“This will enable appropriate rescue, examination and management measures to be carried out,” he said.

Abang Arabi added that a false killer whale had previously been recorded as stranded on a beach in Miri in 2013.

He also expressed appreciation to the agencies, local community and members of the public who assisted during the incident. — The Borneo Post