Injured baby whale hours before its death, Photo: Mata Tohora
There is outrage in French Polynesia after a young whale was fatally wounded by a passing vessel, near the capital Papeete.
The calf had been regularly sighted off the town of Faa'a (near Papeete).
Marine mammals protection associations are denouncing the fatal incident which they say was probably caused by a commercial ferry.
The calf died on Tuesday local time, after sustaining grave wounds to its jaw and blowhole.
After the death of the animal, French Polynesia's joint rescue centre JRCC has warned seafarers to stay clear of the area, for fear of an unusual concentration of predators (including sharks) that would probably concentrate to feed on the carcass.
For public health reasons, gendarmerie marine vessels and the French Navy have towed the carcass away from the shore, off Faa'a point where it started to slowly drift away in a south-south-westerly direction.
Damage inflicted to the mammal are documented in a graphic video published to Facebook by local association Mata Tahora and relayed by Sea Shepherd France.
Another association, Réseau des Gardiens de l'Océan (RGO, Ocean Guardians' network) was involved in the monitoring of the incident.
The calf had sustained "very serious injuries on its left side, [and] the upper jaw was no longer present, which was therefore preventing any short-term chance of survival", RGO member and veterinarian Olivier Betermieux said in an initial report following the death.
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Local authorities have since issued several warnings, stressing that "this accident illustrates harm potentially inflicted to whales due to human activities" and calling for more steps to be taken to protect marine mammals.
It also says skippers need to be further sensitised on good behaviour practices, especially during whales' migration season.
Transport vessels have often been seen circulating at excessive speed, especially when they enter the Papeete and Moorea passes.
Local associations, Faafaite and Rohotu Noanoa have organised a ceremony to pay homage to the dead calf.
Further investigations are ongoing to shed light on the exact circumstances of the incident and to try and identify any individual involved.
