A 30-foot blue whale has been found dead near Gwadar East Bay, prompting an investigation by marine conservation experts into the cause of its death.
The whale had reportedly been seen at different locations in waters around Gwadar during the previous two days before its body reached the shoreline.
Cause of Death Not Yet Known
WWF-Pakistan Technical Adviser Muhammad Moazzam Khan said the death of such a large marine mammal was a matter of concern for marine biodiversity.
A preliminary assessment suggests the whale may have entered relatively shallow waters and become disoriented or stranded.
However, experts have not yet established the actual cause of death, and WWF-Pakistan is investigating the incident.
It would therefore be premature to attribute the death to fishing nets, pollution or another specific cause unless the investigation confirms it.
Blue Whales Are an Endangered Species
Blue whales are regarded as the largest animals known to have existed and are classified as an endangered species.
They are among the baleen whale species recorded in Pakistani waters, along with Bryde’s whales and Arabian humpback whales.
Pakistan’s Balochistan coastline has recorded several whale deaths and strandings in recent years.
A 42-foot blue whale was found dead near Jiwani in 2023, while another blue whale measuring about 35 feet was discovered dead in Gwatar Bay in June 2025.
The latest incident near Gwadar East Bay has again raised concerns over the protection and monitoring of large marine species along Pakistan’s coast.
