TABANAN ~ A dead 3-ton whale measuring almost 10 meters long washed up on Batulumbang Beach in Tabanan on Wednesday.

The whale was discovered by local resident I Nengah Ganti, alias Pan Suastika, 50, who told officials about his find.

Later that day, the regent of Tabanan, N. Adi Wiryatama, came with head the Department of Fisheries and Marine Life, Wirna Ariwangsa, to see the whale.

It was not clear what species the creature was.

“The carcass needs to be buried quickly, and the bones should only be taken for research purposes,” Wiryatama said.

Ariwangsa said he suspected the whale was old and had left its pod to find a place to die.