UNAIR NEWS – The case of stranded whales has occurred again. Three dead whale sharks washed ashore under the Suramadu Bridge. Responding to this incident, Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (FKH) sent a rapid response team to the scene.
Dr. Hani Plumeriastuti drh MKes, the Information and Public Relations Coordinator of UNAIR FKH said that they received information about stranded whales on Monday, July 17, 2023, at 17.00 WIB. Denpasar Coastal and Marine Resources Management Center, Directorate General of Marine Spatial Management, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries sent a letter to the Dean of Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.
After getting the information, FKH immediately dispatched a team to the scene. “So after we got the information, we immediately sent a rapid response team to carry out a temporary identification. Besides that, the team confirmed the position and prepared for necropsy,” she said. The necropsy process is an autopsy examination in animals.
Necropsy examination
The necropsy was carried out on Tuesday, July 18, 2023, at 13.00 WIB. drh Bilqisthi Ari Putra MKes, FKH Rapid Response Team Coordinator explained that the necropsy process was hampered due to high tide.
“The necropsy was postponed because the high tide. The necropsy exam which was scheduled for 13.00 was pushed back to 15.30,” she explained.
drh Bilqis was not alone. There were several people who helped, including Dr Hartanto Mulyo Raharjo drh MSi, FKH Microbiology staff, four Veterinary Professional Education students, and three undergraduate students.
All organ samples were then taken to the FKH Laboratory for further examination. “We brought samples of organs to see the exact cause of the stranded whales and their death,” said drh Bilqis. The lecturer at the Division of Veterinary Pathology added that the preliminary results of the necropsy examination suggested an infection.
drh Bilqis also appealed to the public not to consume the dead whale carcasses. “Do not consume part or all of the carcass of a whale shark which is in a class of fish. We are worried that there is a potential for transmission due to consumption of carcasses,” she explained.
After the necropsy exam, the whale shark carcass will be destroyed. Extermination is done by tying the carcass to the pillars of the Suramadu Bridge. “The whale shark carcass is tied to the pillars of the Suramadu Bridge to be left completely decomposed by the water and waves,” she explained.
FKH Rapid Response Team
For information, UNAIR’s FKH first responder team was formed on October 22, 2021, to respond to marine mammal strandings in East Java.
The FKH rapid response team will coordinate with related agencies such as the Denpasar Coastal and Marine Resources Management Center (BPSPL), East Java Natural Resources Conservation Center (BBKSDA), East Java Marine Affairs and Fisheries Service (DKP), and other related agencies. (*)
Author: Icha Nur Imami Puspita
Editor: Binti Q. Masruroh
