Mysterious sea creature washes ashore on beach in the Philippines
The remains of a large sea creature washed up on a beach in the Dinagat Islands, Philippines on Wednesday afternoon.
The unidentified creature, which measured 4.5 metres (15 feet) in length, surprised local residents.
The carcass, believed to be that of a sea cow, according to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Manila, washed up on a beach in Barangay Poblacion, Cagadianao.
The creature was already in a state of advanced decomposition when found.
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Teodoro L. Alipayo, who took these videos and pictures, told Reuters that a sample of the specimen has been taken to BFAR Manila for laboratory experimentation to determine the species and cause of death.
The carcass has a total length of 6.3 meters (20.6 feet), excluding the tail which is missing, and a total width of two meters (6.6 feet) from the dorsal to pectoral fin.
Alipayo said that the bones are being preserved as a memento of this rare event.