No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeTopicsEnvironment and WildlifeRare Pygmy Killer Whale Found Stranded in Costa Rican National Park

Rare Pygmy Killer Whale Found Stranded in Costa Rican National Park

This week, officials of the Tortuguero Conservation Area (ACTo), part of the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC), rescued a pygmy killer whale (Feresa attenuata) that was stranded in Tortuguero National Park. According to specialists in monitoring cetaceans, this is the first record of this species in the Costa Rican Caribbean. These animals usually live far from the coast, in deep waters, so the sighting is highly unusual.

The SINAC officials who documented the sighting noticed that the animal’s behavior was abnormal and suspected that the stranding might be due to an illness.

“They continued to monitor the animal. On Thursday afternoon, it was reported that the orca stranded again, but this time it was no longer alive,” SINAC explained.

“An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death of this killer whale, in addition to other studies, since this species is very rare,” authorities confirmed. In the case of sighting wildlife with abnormal behavior, injured, or stranded, people should avoid contact with them and alert SINAC authorities. If it is within a Protected Wildlife Area, notify the park rangers.

The pygmy killer whale has an average size among the Delphinidae family and can be easily confused at sea with other species, particularly with the melon-headed dolphin (Peponocephala electra). It has a slender body, with the anterior part of the body more robust than the posterior. An adult is 2.1 to 2.6 meters long and weighs between 110 and 170 kg. Coloration varies from dark gray to black with pale markings on the belly and some white spots on the face. It is generally a difficult species to approach.

The species inhabits tropical and subtropical waters around the circumference of the earth between 40°N and 35°S. It generally does not approach the coasts, except in some areas with deep water near the coast.

Little information is available regarding the global population, but in general, it appears to be uncommon.

Trending Now

Costa Rica’s Film Festival Kicks Off with a New Vision

San José is lighting up for the 13th Costa Rica International Film Festival (CRFIC), running June 19–29, 2025, with filmmaker Patricia Velásquez Guzmán taking...

Climate Change in Costa Rica Devastates Coffee Farms in Los Santos

In Costa Rica’s Los Santos region, famous for producing nearly half the country’s coffee, farmers are reeling from heavy losses driven by wild weather....

Why Costa Rica’s Northern Huetar Region Struggles Despite Its Riches

Costa Rica’s Northern Huetar Region, a sprawling area of 9,790 square kilometers, is home to over 437,000 people across districts like San Carlos, Upala,...

Costa Rica’s President Chaves Accused of Illicit Campaign Financing

On Monday, Costa Rica’s Prosecutor’s Office formally accused President Rodrigo Chaves along with six high-ranking officials and pro-government legislators of allegedly engaging in illicit...

Assassinated in Exile: Roberto Samcam Laid to Rest in Costa Rica

To the cry of "justice," the remains of retired Nicaraguan Army Major Roberto Samcam, a staunch critic of the Daniel Ortega government who was...

Why Costa Rica Feels Like a Safe Haven for This Longtime Expat

If someone asked me to sum up why I live in Costa Rica in 5 words or less, my answer could well be: “It...
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica