Fishermen crash into a whale
A fishing boat traveling at high speed collided with a whale, which was near the surface at the time. The moment of collision was captured on video.
Off Weizhou Island, China, a fishing boat collided with a Bryde's whale.
The fishermen encountered the whale while returning to shore after setting shrimp nets.
An initial investigation revealed that the vessel's design causes its bow to rise while sailing. This makes it difficult for the captain to see danger ahead. According to the crew, they spotted the whale when they were 10 meters away. At this distance, they were unable to brake and avoid the collision. Whales are not known to frequent this area, so the fishermen were not expecting to encounter the animal.
The injured whale was identified as WZ-056. He is also known as Scar Brother because of the scar on his back, approximately 50-60 centimeters long. The whale is being monitored. His new wounds are currently considered harmless.
Bryde's baleen whale (Balaenoptera brydei) is a baleen whale easily distinguished from its relatives by the three distinctive parallel ridges on the top of its head. Adults reach 12-14 meters in length, weigh up to 25 tons, and can live for 50-70 years.
