On January 5, a remarkable and tragic discovery was made in the Baja California peninsula, northwest of Mexico. The Mexican National Commission of Natural Reserves (CONANP) confirmed the existence of a pair of conjoined whales. These extraordinary creatures were found lifeless, leaving researchers in awe of their unique formation.
The conjoined whales, with their two heads attached to a single abdomen, captured the attention of scientists and the public alike. While their discovery brought a sense of wonder, it was also accompanied by a sense of sadness as it was apparent that they had already passed away.
The findings of this extraordinary occurrence have sparked interest and curiosity among experts, who are now dedicated to unraveling the mysteries surrounding these conjoined whales. The study of such rare phenomena contributes to our understanding of the diverse and sometimes enigmatic world of marine life.
This pair of fish belongs to the gray whale species, the body is not fully developed. Possibly due to premature birth, the pair of whales is only 2.1 m long, while newborn gray whales are usually 3.6 – 4.8 m long. Adult fish can be up to 14.9 m long.
Benito Bermudez – a marine biologist and CONANP’s manager – said the twin whales were joined at the waist, so they still had 2 heads and tails. This is an extremely rare case, never before recorded in the world.
Each year, in winter, hundreds of gray whales migrate more than 9,600 kilometers from the Bering and Chukchi seas in the Arctic into the warm waters of the Baja California Peninsula to breed. They will stay here for a few weeks before continuing their journey back to the North. During last year’s breeding season, nearly 1,200 gray whales were spotted in the area.