The extraction of the cetacean, which died weeks ago in open waters and whose body washed ashore, concluded early Sunday afternoon. A heavy-duty crane was used to load the animal onto a specialized truck for transport to an authorized incineration facility.
The operation involved several hours of work and collaboration between various agencies, including Agents Rurals, the Centre for Marine Animal Recovery (CRAM), Mossos d'Esquadra, and the local police. The beach was closed to the public and marked with a red flag for safety during the process.
According to police reports, swimming is expected to resume between Monday and Tuesday, pending an assessment of water quality by lifeguards. The promenade remained cordoned off to prevent public access due to the strong odor emanating from the decomposing carcass.
Municipal workers have been cleaning the sand and the bloodstain left after the extraction. The female sperm whale had been sighted near Barcelona port days earlier, showing signs consistent with a severe impact, likely from a vessel. It was accompanied by its calf, whose body has not yet been located.
