I pulled this photo off Facebook after it was shared to us by a friend from Zamboanga. It is a picture of a dead sperm whale measuring 52 feet long at Zamboanga port. According to recent news, the said whale was found dead off Sacol Island and may have been dead for several days already. According to city veterinarian Dr. Mario Ariola, the whale was also found to be pregnant with its calf visible from its genital slit. Cause of death is still unknown but is suspected to be due to illness.
FACT:
Sperm whales are toothed whales that live in pods. Its brain weighs about 9 kgs, the largest in any animal. It produces ambergris, a dark waxy substance produced in the lower intestine that may help protect the whale from the stings of the giant squid, its major food.
The fictional character Moby Dick is a sperm whale.
Reference: www.philstar.com
www.enchantedlearning.com
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