Whale beached on Socotra’s Delisha Coast [Archives:2008/1119/Local News]

SOCOTRA, Jan. 6 ) A 10-meter long whale has beached itself on the Delisha Coast 10 kilometers from Socotra's Hudaibo city. The reasons for this annual occurrence haven't been identified yet.

Yemen's General Authority for Environmental Protection and the Socotra Conservation and Development Program both were informed. Headed by Nadim Taleb, the program's resident director, a team quickly was dispatched to the location to take appropriate action.

Taleb reported that the aforementioned mammal is a sperm whale, further indicating that its body has some gashes due to fishing vessels passing through Socotra archipelago and hunting such whales for their oil. Such gashes are only made by modern and sophisticated fishing vessels.

Several fishermen headed to the coast to remove the oil substances. Additionally, some cut the mammal's lower jaw to remove its teeth, which are sold to tourists for high prices.

For example, a large canine weighing 1 kilogram is worth YR 12,000.
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