A piece of jawbone from a dead sperm whale that washed ashore near Esbjerg has vanished, prompting warnings from Danish authorities and raising questions about public interference with protected wildlife. The sperm whale, found stranded at BlĂĄvandshuk, is a protected species under the EU's Habitats Directive, making the removal of any part a potential legal issue. Experts confirm the removal was not official and warn of health risks from touching the carcass.
Mystery at BlĂĄvandshuk
Charlotte Bie Thøstesen, the natural history specialist at the Fisheries and Maritime Museum in Esbjerg, confirmed the disappearance after being alerted by photos sent to her, including from local media. She stated she does not know who removed the jawbone or why. "It is certainly not from the official side that it has been cut off," Thøstesen said, emphasizing the whale's protected status. She strongly advises the public to keep their distance from the massive carcass.
Health Hazards and Natural Dangers
The specialist highlighted significant risks beyond legal ones. "We do not know what it died from—there are zoonoses that can infect humans—so it is important not to touch it," she pointed out. She added the dangers of the tide and the strong currents flowing between the coast and the sandbank at Blåvandshuk Fyr, where the whale is located. These natural factors make the site hazardous for untrained visitors.
A Recurring Danish Coastal Phenomenon
While not an everyday occurrence, stranded whales on the southwest Jutland coasts are not unusual. In a starkly similar incident just weeks earlier, at the end of January, a dead sperm whale was found near the coast south of Skagen. That whale was recovered and underwent a necropsy, which revealed large amounts of fishing net in its stomach. The net had blocked the whale's esophagus, and it is assumed the whale starved to death, illustrating a common threat marine giants face from human debris.
The Complex Question of Recovery
The fate of the Esbjerg whale remains uncertain. Skovfoged Henrik Lykke Sørensen from the Nature Agency in Blåvandshuk inspected the stranded animal on Friday. He reported that it was still unclear if an attempt would be made to recover the whale, as it lies a considerable distance from land. Recovery operations for large cetaceans are complex, costly, and depend on location, accessibility, and environmental factors. The remote placement complicates any official removal or scientific sampling process.
Expert Perspective on Stranding Response
From an expert operational perspective, this case highlights the logistical challenges Danish authorities face. The Danish Nature Agency and institutions like the Fisheries and Maritime Museum must balance scientific interest, public safety, and practical constraints. Every stranding is different. A easily accessible whale might be quickly sampled and removed. One in a dangerous, tidal location may be left to decompose naturally, a process that can take years for an animal of this size. The public's role in these scenarios is clearly defined: observe from a safe distance and report, do not interact. The health warning is not theoretical, decomposing carcasses can harbor dangerous bacteria. The strong currents at BlĂĄvandshuk add a layer of physical risk, making unauthorized approaches not just illegal but potentially deadly.