Four dead whales found on ‘Atā Island [1]
Wednesday, June 6, 2018 - 19:48. Updated on Wednesday, June 6, 2018 - 19:49.
The deaths of four dead whales that were washed up on the shores of ‘Atā Island last month is being investigated by Tonga Police.
‘Atā is a small remote island, an hour by boat off the east coast of Tongatapu where a few prisoners are kept.
The dead whales were sighted by Prison Officer Kolianita Feke who today said he travelled to the island on a routine shift and saw the dead whales on the island's shores already in a decomposing stage.
He said one had a hole on the head and near his mouth and they assumed it was shot. "But we don't know for sure. The whales have been left to decompose at sea," he said.
Meanwhile, the Fisheries Department said today police were still investigating the cause of death after they got a phone call from police of this prison officer's report that four whales drifted to their shores dead.
It seemed they were shot due to the holes found on the whale's head but not yet confirmed as reported from the police station, said Fisheries spokersperson.
Matangi Tonga has not been able to obtain photos of the flukes of the dead whales. It is known that whales have individual markings on their flukes, which are often used by scientists to track sightings along humpbacks migration routes.
Tongan waters remain a sanctuary for whales since the ban against its killing remains in force since 1978 as declared by the late King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV, in a royal decree.