Rescuers test the auditory sense of a sperm whale near a dock in Huizhou Harbor in Huizhou, south China's Guangdong Province, March 14, 2017. A sperm whale stranded near a dock in Huizhou on Tuesday. The rescue work is under way in difficulty since the whale seems weak. (Xinhua/Mao Siqian)
Chinese marine life experts said a sperm whale stranded around a wharf in south China's Guangdong Province has a "very slim" chance of survival.
Fishery authorities of Shenzhen City received a report on Sunday morning of a 12-meter-long whale that was spotted trapped in fishing nets in the waters of Daya Bay.
After the whale was freed from the nets, authorities and zoologists tried to guide it back to the deep sea. However, it continued to swim in shallow waters off Shenzhen and Huizhou cities and was confirmed to have been stranded near the wharf on Tuesday afternoon.
Experts speculated that, rather than being lost, the whale intentionally entered shallow waters due to its bad health.
Over the past few days, the animal has been moving and breathing less. Workers with the Daya Bay conservation zone said euthanasia is possible if its situation does not improve.
