Whale remains surprise visitors at Es Caló des Moro

Summer is officially here, and the beaches of the Balearic Islands are once again showing their usual image: full of tourists and residents trying to cool off from the high temperatures brought by the heatwave with a dip in our turquoise waters.

What is far less usual, however, is what tourists at the idyllic and highly popular beach of Es Caló des Moro found floating in the sea a few days ago. They were surprised by the appearance of organic remains from a whale.

Our contributor, marine biologist Anto Solomando, explains how such a discovery is possible and highlights the importance of caring for our marine environment. “Although it may seem like an extraordinary event, the truth is that these kinds of incidents occur occasionally along the Balearic coast,” she says.

Whales travel long distances during their migrations and, when they die at sea, their bodies can remain afloat for some time due to gases produced during decomposition. Marine currents and wind can then carry them towards the coast, where they are eventually spotted or wash ashore.

As for the causes of death, our contributor explains that they may vary: “from natural processes associated with old age or disease, to collisions with large vessels or entanglement in fishing gear.” For this reason, every discovery is an opportunity for specialists to examine the animal and gather useful information to better understand the condition of Mediterranean cetacean populations.

In fact, a doctoral thesis on the impact of plastics on these species was developed through the study of all cetacean carcasses found between 2019 and 2024. It revealed that most individuals are affected by entanglement rather than ingestion.

Although it is not a common phenomenon, the marine biologist reminds us that it is not exceptional either. “The whale that appeared at Es Caló des Moro is a reminder that we share the Mediterranean with these marine giants, and of the importance of continuing to protect an ecosystem under growing pressure from human activity.”