Heartbreaking footage shows a young humpback whale after its jaw was torn following a head-on collision with a ferry last week.
The female whale, named Sweet Girl, was swimming near a harbor in Tahiti on October 8 when a boat left the area at six times the speed limit, according to wildlife group Sea Shepard.
Aftermath footage by conservation divers showed the creature’s upper mouth had been cut off and blood was pouring from the wounds.
She drowned after “several hours of agony,” according to Sea Shephard, a wildlife organization that shared the video.
The ferry was reportedly traveling at a speed of 30 knots through a port where speed was limited to five knots.
Doctor Agnès Benet, founder of marine conservation group Mata Tohora, told DailyMail.com: ‘Mata Tohora was called at 9.50am… (but) the whale died very soon after arrival.
‘He drowned due to blows and fractures, especially in the nasal bone.’
A young humpback whale named Sweet Girl tragically died after being struck head-on by a speeding ferry in Tahiti on October 8
The two conservation organizations have filed a complaint with the local government and requested a criminal investigation.
“We will do everything we can to identify and convict the criminals who did this. We are also launching an appeal for witnesses,” the group said.
While details about the whale and the incident are scarce, the video showed the top part of her month had been completely removed.
Blood poured from the opening, leaving a trail as she tried to reach the surface.
The video also captured the young humpback whale’s cry of pain.
Rachel Moore, an underwater photographer, was at Sweet Girl just four days before her death and shared a tribute on her Instagram page.
‘She had many names here, but I liked to call her Sweet Girl. Over the past few weeks, she has touched so many lives,” Moore wrote.
‘She was brutally disfigured and endured hours of pain and suffering before finally succumbing to her wounds and drowning.
The deformed whale was captured on underwater footage. The boat completely cut off the top part of his mouth
Blood flowed from the wound as the whale let out cries of distress
There are approximately 3,200 humpback whales living around the islands of Tahiti, of which there are approximately 80,000 worldwide.
‘I still can’t believe this happened to her; she didn’t deserve this after all the kindness and curiosity she showed us humans. Ultimately, we are responsible for her death.”
Moore further explained that this devastating fate is met by 20,000 whales dying every year.
There are approximately 3,200 humpback whales living around the islands of Tahiti, of which there are approximately 80,000 worldwide.
But the French Polynesian Islands are home to the world’s largest marine mammal sanctuary.
Whale watching is an important source of income for the region, and authorities have taken steps to promote responsible tourism to protect the cetaceans.
In April, regulations imposed a safety distance of 100 meters between the animal and permitted boats, while swimmers had to keep a distance of 15 meters.
Julien Anton, guide for Tahiti Dive Management, said: ‘This is one of the last places on earth where we get to observe them up close.
However, environmental groups and some scientists have criticized the boom in whale watching activities.
The Polynesian association Mata Tohora, which works to protect marine mammals, says there are far too many boats on the water.
Agnes Benet, biologist and founder of the association, said: ‘We need to limit the number of boats around the whales and dolphins. It’s a matter of managing the activity, and that has to be done quickly.”
“You can swim with the whales without disturbing them,” she added.
“It can be done if you take your time, are patient and do it with love.”