The killer whale, which was found dead in Hunnebostrand in Sotenäs municipality on Thursday, was examined on Friday by staff from the State Veterinary Medical Institution (SVA) to find out more about how it lived and why it died.
Already now they can ascertain that the 6.8 meter long killer whale has starved.
“It is an adult, very thin and old male. The weight is around 2,800 kilos, but should have been twice that. So it could be an old individual, who emaciated and finally died,” says Gustav Avehred, pathologist at SVA, in a press release.
The authority also states that the stomach and intestinal system were empty and that the orca’s teeth were severely worn down – right down to the pulp. SVA also found bruises and lacerations on the body, but states that it otherwise had no obvious pathological changes.
Now samples that have been taken from all organs are to be analysed. The results are expected in a couple of weeks.
“It is a powerful animal that we have never examined before. It is exciting, but also of course sad that it has died,” says Norbert van de Velde, pathologist at SVA, in the press release.
Orcas, which are the largest species in the dolphin family, can usually be observed on the west coast during the summer months, but rarely as early as May.