TEHRAN - A 15-meter-long whale which had been stuck in mud in the northern coast of the protected area of Helleh in the Persian Gulf in Bushehr Province died on Saturday, a local official said.

Hossein Delshab said this is the fifth whale which has died over the last seven months in the same area, the Mehr news agency reported.

A group of experts has been sent to the scene to study the cause of the death, Delshab added.

He added that different species of whales have entered the Persian Gulf for unknown reasons but they are seriously in danger of colliding with vessels.

Hunting and vessel traffic are the most important threats to marine mammals, he concluded.

PT/P