2023-10-30 13:18:05
The orca which washed up on the beach of La Panne on Sunday was autopsied on Monday, although the results might not determine the exact cause of the cetacean’s death. “Certain traces suggest that his lymphatic system was defective but additional analyzes must be carried out,” indicated Kelle Moreau, of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS).
Spotted off the Belgian coast on Sunday, the animal was heading south towards France and had come dangerously close to the beach in Saint-Idesbald. He did not react when a boat tried to discourage him from reaching the coast, according to Mr. Moreau. Finally, the orca was stranded around 3:00 p.m. on a beach in De Panne and died shortly following.
The autopsy, carried out directly on the beach, determined that the mammal had not eaten anything for several days. “His stomach was empty and he was obviously weakened. We did not observe any fracture, which allows us to rule out any collision,” explained the IRSNB spokesperson. However, scientists have noticed problems with the lymphatic system, which might indicate an infection. This hypothesis “would explain the weakening” of the animal, but “it must still be confirmed by laboratory analyses,” continued Kelle Moreau. Toxicological analyzes will also be carried out in order to establish or rule out chemical pollution.
In addition to Ghent University, the municipalities of De Panne and Koksijde volunteered to recover the cetacean skeleton. “The law stipulates that the Belgian state is the owner but the skeleton can nevertheless be loaned. We hope that the candidates can get along.”
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