Following a necropsy of a sperm whale that washed up onto the shore in central Herzliya in the morning, the cause of death still remains unclear.
The carcass, 12 meters (roughly 39 feet) long, is identified as that of an adult male.
Mia Elser of the Delphis Association explains, “This is the first adult specimen to arrive in a non-decomposed state since the beginning of Israeli research in the 1990s. This may indicate that the cause of death was not natural.”
She adds, “Since the start of research in Israel, eight sperm whale carcasses have been documented on our shores. Since 2020, there have been more sightings of live whales at sea, which aligns with the increase in the number of carcasses reaching the shore.”
Researchers are continuing to analyze findings on-site and have collected samples for further laboratory testing.
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From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
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