Diglipur, Oct 11: An incident involving the stranding of marine wildlife, suspected to be dolphins or short-finned pilot whales, has been reported at Amber Chad Beach under Diglipur Range of Diglipur Forest Division, North and Middle Andaman. According to information shared through the official Instagram handle of the Department of Environment & Forests, A & N Administration, preliminary information indicates that approximately 13 marine animals may be involved. However, the exact number and species are yet to be confirmed.
The Forest Department has issued a public advisory urging residents and tourists to avoid the affected area until further notice. People have been specifically cautioned against approaching or touching any stranded or deceased marine animals.
According to the information shared by the department, a response team, along with wildlife and veterinary personnel, is being mobilised to assess the situation. Efforts will be made to guide any live animals found in shallow waters towards deeper waters, wherever feasible and safe. The department has also indicated that measurements of deceased animals will be recorded and post-mortem examinations will be attempted to ascertain the possible cause of the incident. Following the necessary procedures, the deceased animals will be buried appropriately.
Sources in the Forest Department said that veterinary personnel were being sent to the beach for post-mortem examinations. The findings are expected to help establish the circumstances surrounding the stranding. However, the cause of the incident has not yet been determined, and further details are awaited.
The department has also instructed personnel to take necessary precautions against potential exposure to pathogens while handling the animals. Crowd-control measures have been directed to prevent people from gathering near the affected stretch of the beach. Temporary restrictions on the dissemination of information through social media have also been mentioned in the department’s instructions.
In its advisory, the Forest Department has requested the general public and tourists to cooperate with officials and strictly follow the instructions issued by the authorities. Residents and visitors have been urged to stay away from the affected beach until further notice to ensure public safety and allow the assessment and examination procedures to be carried out without interference.
The latest incident has also brought back memories of a similar mass-stranding event reported in North Andaman in October 2012. According to a report published by Andaman Sheekha Daily on October 25, 2012, approximately 40 short-finned pilot whales died after becoming stranded along the west coast of North Andaman Island, near Elizabeth Bay.
The report stated that fishermen had first spotted the whales and alerted wildlife officials. Emergency teams and local volunteers subsequently reached the beach, but efforts to return the animals to deeper waters proved unsuccessful. Wildlife officials had then explained that mass stranding could occur when whales became disoriented and were unable to return to deeper waters. Another possible explanation discussed by experts was that a group might follow a sick or injured animal into shallow waters.
The recurrence of a similar incident in North Andaman during October has once again drawn attention to marine wildlife strandings in the island territory. However, it remains to be established whether the present incident involves the same species as the animals stranded in 2012.
At the time of filing this report, no Forest Department official could be contacted for an official comment. The exact number and species of the stranded animals, the circumstances leading to the incident and the findings of the post-mortem examinations are awaited.
