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Pictures: Giant whale washes up on iconic beach in Rio de Janeiro

“I’ve never seen one so close, I would have liked to have had the chance to save it,” said one local resident.

Brazil Beached Whale Silvia Izquierdo / PA Images Silvia Izquierdo / PA Images / PA Images

THE DECOMPOSING BODY of a dead humpback whale surprised swimmers when it washed up on Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Ipanema beach today.

Curious onlookers approached a cordon to take photographs of the humpback, whose 14-metre-long carcass gave off a putrid stench as it lay exposed to the sun.

Brazil Beached Whale Silvia Izquierdo / PA Images Silvia Izquierdo / PA Images / PA Images

Some touched its jaw bones, which had come loose and lay on the damp sand.

Rafael Carvalho, a marine mammal biologist at the State University of Rio de Janeiro, told AFP: “It is not possible to know what happened, it is in an advanced state of decomposition and that makes it difficult to know the cause of death.”

Dead Humpback Whale on the beach of Ipanema. Luciano Belford / PA Images Luciano Belford / PA Images / PA Images

Carvalho is part of a team that is dedicated to removing beached whales, a relatively common phenomenon in the area because Rio lies along their migration path.

Dead Humpback Whale on the beach of Ipanema. Luciano Belford / PA Images Luciano Belford / PA Images / PA Images

The body will be removed in a truck and then buried for sanitary reasons, he added.

“I’ve never seen one so close, I would have liked to have had the chance to save it,” mused Mauro Azevedo, a 62-year-old Rio resident.

Brazil Beached Whale Silvia Izquierdo / PA Images Silvia Izquierdo / PA Images / PA Images

© AFP 2017

Read: Mystery of enormous 60-foot whale washed up dead on Donegal island

Read: Whales and dolphins have tight-knit social groups and ‘human-like’ cultures and societies

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    Mute Chewey Bacca
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    Nov 27th 2018, 1:35 PM

    Congrats Victoria Mary & Shane – Great songwriter

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    Mute John Ryan
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    Nov 27th 2018, 1:43 PM

    The fact he’s actually still alive is astounding…the amount of abuse the human body can take and still keep on chugging is amazing…

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    Mute Terrence Edwards
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    Nov 27th 2018, 1:32 PM

    He’s the same age as me but could pass for my father

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    Mute Deborah Blacoe
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    Nov 27th 2018, 1:39 PM

    @Terrence Edwards: does your father have hair?

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    Mute Loretta stiletto
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    Nov 27th 2018, 1:42 PM

    @Terrence Edwards: really…. in your opinion

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    Mute Rob Ryan
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    Nov 27th 2018, 1:59 PM

    @Terrence Edwards: are there no mirrors in your house chief?

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    Mute Shea Carroll
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    Nov 27th 2018, 2:09 PM

    @Terrence Edwards: Very important information. Please keep us posted if you have any more insights

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    Mute Bertrand Bonquer
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    Nov 27th 2018, 3:00 PM

    @Terrence Edwards:
    Eh no. No he wouldn’t.

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    Mute Aine Power
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    Nov 27th 2018, 1:58 PM

    Best songwriter I have ever listened to.

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    Mute Brian Dunne
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    Nov 27th 2018, 2:52 PM

    @Aine Power: great man to pen a lyric. Lullaby of london is probably my personal favourite

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    Mute TamuMassif2019
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    Nov 28th 2018, 2:14 AM

    @Aine Power: He’s famous for 1 song really but he can only take credit for 50% of that Christmas jingle?

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    Mute Mari
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    Nov 27th 2018, 1:52 PM

    Big congrats guys

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    Mute Danny Ennis
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    Nov 27th 2018, 4:07 PM

    I’d say that was some session

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    Mute damo.f
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    Nov 27th 2018, 2:45 PM

    What a lucky gal she is.

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    Mute Ann Moynihan
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    Nov 27th 2018, 7:50 PM

    @damo.f: you have got to be joking!!!

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    Mute Deborah Blacoe
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    Nov 27th 2018, 8:32 PM

    @Ann Moynihan: why must he be joking?

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    Mute Rory Mackle
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    Nov 27th 2018, 6:56 PM

    Complete legend hope has a few good years of happiness A pair of brown eyes one of the greatest songs ever

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    Mute Dunn
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    Nov 27th 2018, 5:06 PM

    Huge congratulations.

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    Mute Brian Smith
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    Nov 27th 2018, 7:20 PM

    She now has a husband and a child to look after, all in one ceremony

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    Mute Rory Mackle
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    Nov 27th 2018, 6:56 PM

    Complete legend hope has a few good years of happiness

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    Mute Damien
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    Nov 27th 2018, 2:41 PM

    Shes one lucky lady.

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    Mute Damien
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    Nov 27th 2018, 2:31 PM

    Imagine waking up to that beautiful face beaide you in bed every morning. Shes a lucky lady.

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