LEGAZPI CITY: The sperm whale (Physeter catodon) that was stranded on June 25 in the shallow waters of Dimasalang, Masbate died on June 26.

“A giant sperm whale was stranded, struggling, breathing, and swimming in the shore of Banahao and Suba in Dimasalang, Masbate,” Nonie Enolva, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) regional spokesman, said.

Government responders and volunteers, who tried to rescue the stranded whale, were hoping that the high tide would come in time so that the whale could swim back to the open sea. They also used fish nets and ropes in a bid to tow the whale to deeper waters.

The rescuers, however, failed and the whale perished at 10 p.m. on Sunday. Authorities are still investigating the cause of death.

The stranded whale, which was spotted by local fisherfolk at 10 a.m. on Saturday, was at least 8 meters (26 feet) long and weighed at least 12 metric tons, Enolva said.

“’The common causes of stranding are boat strike, accidental catching, blast fishing, natural causes such as disease, old age and bad weather. This is the sixth sperm whale to [be stranded] in the Bicol Region,” the BFAR spokesman added.

The giant sperm whale is the largest of the toothed whales, with males growing up to 19 meters (62 feet) long and females up to 12 meters (39 feet) in length.