Giant of the Sea: Rare Fin Whale Strands in Taiwan's Waters

A historic first: A deceased Fin Whale, the second largest animal on Earth, washes ashore in Taiwan, offering a glimpse into the mysteries of the deep.

The Chinese Cetacean Association announced today a significant discovery: a Fin Whale, the second-largest animal in the world, stranded at Guishan Island, Taiwan, in early March. This marks the first time a complete Fin Whale specimen has been found stranded in Taiwan.

The association reported on their Facebook page that they were alerted on February 12th regarding a large baleen whale floating off the coast of Daqi Fishing Harbor, Toucheng, Yilan County. A team was immediately dispatched to the site, documenting the event with aerial photography, capturing valuable images of the drifting whale. At the time, the animal was estimated to be over 10 meters long. Given the lack of significant skin degradation, it was presumed to have died recently. Unfortunately, the whale did not wash ashore as expected, and the case was initially closed as a sighting report.