Mumbai Stranding Response Network

Mumbai’s marine megafauna stranding response network. Coordinating first response, and data for cetaceans & marine life along India’s busiest coastline.

[Shaunak Modi @Pugdandee]

It’s impossible to keep up with misinformation that’s spreading on social media about the whale stranding in Bandra on Saturday morning.

From claims of it being a humpback whale to it being AI generated and the worst, that the whale was killed on purpose for oil and ambergris.

Some facts:
The Blue whale calf which was first noticed by staff working at the VBSL staff at around 7:30AM, who informed the Mumbai Police and the Mumbai Fire Brigade in an effort to start rescue efforts.

By the time the @MumbaiStranding team reached the site, the calf, which was injured and bleeding had passed away.

Do we need better infrastructure and reporting systems for such incidents? Yes.

But to say the whale was allowed to die or was deliberately killed is absolute rubbish and disrespectful to every person who was there that day.

Marine mammal science and conservation in India is in its nascency. We adapt to, and work with what we have, and we learn from each experience so the next time something similar happens we can be better prepared.

Thank you, @ranjeetnature for reporting what actually happened and getting the truth out.