Fisherman "This is the first time I've seen such a large whale carcass"
Whale carcass may explode due to unreleased methane
The carcass of a humpback whale, swollen like a giant balloon, was found floating on the sea.
According to the British Daily Mail and others, the carcass of a humpback whale was recently discovered by fishermen near the coast of Norway. The fishermen were initially confused as they did not know what the carcass was. However, upon realizing it was a humpback whale carcass, they stayed more than 100 meters away due to concerns about the risk of explosion.
Generally, when an animal dies, methane is produced during the decomposition process. However, whales often have thick skin that prevents methane from escaping, causing it to accumulate inside the body. Eventually, the accumulating methane causes the carcass to swell and potentially explode.
Fisherman Dag Ridland, who witnessed the carcass, said he kept his boat at a safe distance due to the explosion risk. He said, "The carcass was protruding about 3 meters above the sea," and added, "I have worked as a fisherman for 27 years and have seen several dead whales, but I have never seen one this large before," expressing his astonishment.
The video filmed by the fishermen also became a hot topic. In the video posted on social media, a huge black object is seen floating on the sea. Overseas netizens who saw this reacted with comments such as "It looks like it could explode at any moment," "It’s swollen like a balloon," and "I didn’t know whale carcasses could be that big."
Meanwhile, the humpback whale is a mammal belonging to the baleen whale family, with a body length of 11 to 16 meters and a weight of 30 to 40 tons. Its lifespan can reach up to 60 years, and it is one of the most agile large whales, often seen jumping above the water surface. Once classified as an endangered species, its population has increased due to conservation efforts and it is no longer listed as endangered.
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