The reeking carcass of a 22-meter whale that got stuck under a pier at a factory in Ichihara, Chiba Prefecture, was towed to a beach in the prefectural capital Monday where officials plan to bury it.
It is rare for a whale that size to drift ashore in Tokyo Bay. Officials from Chiba Prefecture said they are not sure what kind of whale they are dealing with.
According to the prefecture, the whale was found stuck under the pier on July 27. On Monday afternoon, a boat managed to pull mammal free after a diver wrapped two ropes around it. The whole process took about two hours.
The whale was later dragged to the coast of Mihama Ward in the city of Chiba, progressing little by little with the rising tide.
The rotting body of the animal was reportedly creating a terrible stench.
