TEMPO.CO, Banda Aceh - Ten whales were found stranded in the Ujong Kareung beach of Durung Village, Aceh Besar, on Monday afternoon, November 13. Some of the whales have been pulled back into the sea, while others died.
Aceh's Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) head Sapto Aji Prabowo said five whales have been put back into the sea.
"Three are dead. We are still attempting to put the other two back into the sea," Sapto said in a written statement on Tuesday, November 14.
Read also: Whales Washed Up Ashore in Ujung Kareung, Aceh
According to Sapto, based on the on-duty officers' reports, the three whales died on early Tuesday morning. Officers are trying to push the two living whales into the waters.
Since Monday night, the Navy has also deployed the KRI Simeulu boat to help rescue the whales.
The sperm whales were stranded on Ujong Kareung Beach, attracting the public who then flocked to the scene.
Relevant institutions also came to the area to offer help, including the Aceh Marine Office, BKSDA Aceh, the Police, TNI, Basarnas, Aceh Disaster Management Agency, FKH Unsyiah, the Quarantine Fisheries, and Panglima Laot Aceh. They work together to pull the 8-10 meters mammals back into the sea.
ADI WARSIDI