Hong Kong laid bryde whale earlier found in the city's waters to rest

In the waters off Sai Kung, a Bryde's whale that surfaced recently unfortunately died at the end of last month. After completing the autopsy, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) decided to bury the body near the west dam of High Island Reservoir. The body is expected to take months to two years to decompose naturally before experts retrieve the bones back to Ocean Park for future study.

On August 8, personnel from the Fisheries and Conservation Department buried the carcass of Bryde's whale in the west dam of Wanyi Reservoir.

After inspection this morning, it was found that only the skeletal remains of the whale remained at the autopsy site, and some parts still had meat.

Around 9 am, crews arrived at the scene with an excavator and dug a pit, estimated to be 8 to 10 meters deep, for burying the whale. At around 10am, the autopsy team lifted the whale's carcass from the canvas, and the carcass gave off a strong putrid smell that even overshadowed the diesel smell from the excavator. As the necropsy team began cutting open the whale's fins and tail, they were taken by surprise by a swarm of insects.

The Fisheries and Conservation Department, together with Hong Kong Ocean Park, Hong Kong Ocean Park Conservation Fund and City University experts, conducted an autopsy on the whale, and all relevant procedures have been completed. The Fisheries and Conservation Administration stated on Sunday (6th) that proper handling procedures will be followed during the burial process to ensure compliance with sanitation and disinfection regulations, as well as environmental protection principles. Once the body decomposes naturally, the skeleton will be transported to Ocean Park Hong Kong for study. In the future, it is also planned to use whale bones as specimens for conservation education.

According to sources at the scene, burying the whale required digging a hole 8 to 10 meters deep and using more than 60 bags of sand. Zhang Kaitai, a marine biologist and chairman of the Hong Kong Dolphin Conservation Society, previously predicted that the AFCD would need to use excavators to dig a bigger hole, bury the whale head in situ, and use various substances to speed up the decomposition process.

Zhang explained that the time required for natural decomposition depends on various factors such as weather conditions, and usually takes at least several months or even as long as two years. During this time, some whale bones may need to be excavated to assess the progress of decomposition.

香港掩埋早前在城市水域发现的布氏鲸尸体

在西贡海域，一头最近浮出水面的布氏鲸于上月底不幸死亡。 渔农自然护理署（渔护署）完成尸检后，决定将尸体埋葬于万宜水库西坝附近。 预计尸体需要数月至两年的时间才能自然分解，然后专家才能将骨头带回海洋公园进行进一步研究。

8月8日，渔护署人员将布氏鲸尸体掩埋在万宜水库西坝。

今天上午检查后发现，尸检现场只剩下鲸鱼的骨骼残骸，部分部位还残留有肉。

上午9点左右，工作人员带着挖掘机赶到现场，挖了一个估计深8至10米的坑，用于埋葬鲸鱼。 上午10点左右，尸检小组从画布上抬起鲸鱼的尸体，尸体散发出强烈的腐臭味，甚至盖过了挖掘机散发出的柴油味。 当尸检小组开始切开鲸鱼的鳍和尾巴时，他们被一群昆虫吓了一跳。

渔业自然护理署联同香港海洋公园、香港海洋公园保育基金及城市大学专家对鲸鱼进行尸检，所有相关程序已完成。 渔业及自然保育管理局周日（6日）表示，埋葬过程中将遵循适当的处理程序，以确保符合卫生和消毒规定以及环境保护原则。 一旦尸体自然分解，骨架将被运往香港海洋公园进行研究。 未来还计划利用鲸骨作为标本进行保护教育。

据现场消息称，埋葬鲸鱼需要挖一个8至10米深的洞，并使用60多袋沙子。 海洋生物学家、香港海豚保育会主席张开泰此前预测，渔护署需要用挖掘机挖更大的洞，将鲸头原地掩埋，并使用各种物质加速分解过程。

张解释说，自然分解所需的时间取决于天气条件等多种因素，通常至少需要几个月，甚至长达两年。 在此期间，可能需要挖掘一些鲸骨以评估分解的进度。