Stranded false killer whale dies of possible circulatory system failure due to heat stress, says controller of wildlife

KUCHING, Oct 7 2026:An adult female false killer whale (pseudorca crassidens), which was found stranded on shores of Pueh Beach, Sematan, recently, was believed to have died due to  complications arising from the stranding, including possible circulatory system failure due to heat stress (heat stroke), Controller of Wildlife Abang Arabi Abang Aimran revealed in his Facebook post.

Caption: False killer whale was found stranded on the shores of Pueh Beach, died due to complication

He said further examination revealed the presence of shark bite marks on the animal's body. 

"The stomach contents were minimal and mixed with sand, indicating that the animal likely failed to obtain sufficient food prior to stranding, Abang Arabi, who is also the chief executive officer of the Sarawak Forestry Corporation, said. 

He saidl marine mammal species (dolphins, whales,,false killer whale, and dugongs) are classified as Totally Protected Animals under the Wildlife Protection Ordinance 1998.

He extended SFC's deepest appreciation to the Malaysia Civil Defence Force (APM) of the Lundu/Sematan District, police, and members of the public who acted swiftly to help rescue a marine mammal when it was first stranded along the shores of Pueh Beach.

He said immediate action was taken to release the marine mammal back into the sea, reflecting a high level of awareness and cooperation among the relevant agencies and the public regarding wildlife conservation efforts in Sarawak.

However, Abang Arabi said SFC later  received information about 9am on Oct 3  from local fishermen that the marine mammal had become stranded again near the Pueh Youth Camp area. 

He said the animal was found in a weakened state and eventually died around 2pm the same day.

He said based on an examination of its external morphology and tooth count, the marine mammal was identified as an adult female false killer whale (pseudorca crassidens), measuring 3.85 meters in length with a body circumference of 1.77 meters.

Following the incident, he said SFC carried out standard operating procedures for stranded marine animals and performed a necropsy on the carcass.

He added biometric specimens were also collected for the DNA databank to serve as future references. The operation involved nine  SFC staff members with the assistance of six  residents from Kampung Pueh.