# Moby Ka-Boom! Or: Exothermic Cetacean Tricks

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moby-ka-boom-or-exothermic-cetacean-tricks/226530>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [January 29, 2004, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moby-ka-boom-or-exothermic-cetacean-tricks/226530 "2004-01-29T06:00:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\
**Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moby-ka-boom-or-exothermic-cetacean-tricks/226530/1 "2004-01-29T06:00:33Z")

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**[Sperm whale explodes in Tainan City](http://www.etaiwannews.com/Taiwan/2004/01/27/1075168255.htm)**

> [@](#):
>
> A dead sperm whale being transported through Tainan City on its way to a research station suddenly exploded yesterday, splattering cars and shops with blood and guts.
> 
> Certified by authorities as the largest beached whale on record in Taiwan, the 17-meter 50-ton carcass was being transported by a flat-bed trailer-truck to a special research location after National Cheng Kung University officials and security guards refused to allow the whale on campus.
> 
> The whale was to be preserved and an autopsy performed at the “Shi-Tsao Natural Preserve” in Tainan County by a team of marine biologists and taxidermists.
> 
> National Cheng Kung University marine biologist, professor Wang Chien-ping, was on the scene and said he had he instructed the truck driver to move the carcass so the whale could be used for educational purposes and an autopsy could be done.
> 
> The beached whale was found on along a stretch of coast in Yunlin County on Saturday.
> 
> “… Because of the natural decomposing process, a lot of gases accumulated, and when the pressure buildup was too great, the whale’s belly just exploded and spilled blood and the innards on the street,” Wang said.
> 
> Despite the explosion, enough of the whale remained intact that it will still be transported to the ‘Shi-Tsao Natural Preserve’ for a scientific examination, Wang added.

Acting as a concerned citizen, I emailed this story to Dave Barry immediately.

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**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\
**Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moby-ka-boom-or-exothermic-cetacean-tricks/226530/2 "2004-01-29T07:36:11Z")

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He he… it’s funnier when people do it on [purpose](http://perp.com/whale/)!

😛

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**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\
**Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moby-ka-boom-or-exothermic-cetacean-tricks/226530/3 "2004-01-29T13:24:39Z")

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Dammit!

Now I wish I hadn’t posted my own thread on this! :mad:

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**Author:** ![Mycroft\_Holmes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a5b964/32.png) [@Mycroft\_Holmes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mycroft_Holmes)\
**Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moby-ka-boom-or-exothermic-cetacean-tricks/226530/4 "2004-01-29T14:16:59Z")

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> [@Astroboy14](#):
>
> He he… it’s funnier when people do it on [purpose](http://perp.com/whale/)!
> 
> 😛

Shouldn’t that be on [porpoise](http://perp.com/whale/)?

Sometimes I slay me