5th September 2025 - (Hong Kong) The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) received a police report yesterday evening about a suspected whale carcass found in Mirs Bay. AFCD personnel, along with staff from Ocean Park Hong Kong and the Ocean Park Conservation Foundation, Hong Kong (OPCFHK), promptly investigated the scene.
A preliminary assessment by a veterinarian from the Ocean Park response team revealed that the whale carcass measured approximately 10 metres in length. Due to its advanced state of decomposition, the species could not be definitively identified, although it is tentatively believed to be a baleen whale. Given the extent of decomposition, a necropsy to determine the cause of death was not feasible. Staff will continue processing the carcass today, with completion expected by this evening.
Experts believe the deceased whale is not a local species and estimate that it has been dead for some time, likely drifting into Mirs Bay from a distant area due to ocean currents.
Records indicate that baleen whales are found globally in various oceans, with different species residing in specific waters. These whales typically forage in cold, high-latitude regions around the Arctic and Antarctic during the summer months and migrate to warmer, low-latitude or tropical waters for breeding and nurturing their young in winter.
To bolster marine ecological protection in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Hong Kong and Shenzhen signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 15th August, establishing a joint rescue mechanism for large aquatic wild animals. This agreement aims to collaboratively safeguard the marine environment and biodiversity in the region. In this instance, the AFCD has maintained close communication with Shenzhen authorities, sharing relevant information to facilitate follow-up actions.
The AFCD urges the public to report any whale sightings or stranded cetaceans immediately by calling 1823 or using the 1823 mobile application. Members of the public are reminded to keep a safe distance from cetaceans, avoid approaching or disturbing them, and prioritise their own safety to prevent hazardous situations.