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Tourists criticised for 'shameful' selfies with dead whale

The actions of dozens of tourists at a beach in Chile has been slammed after they posed with and engraved their names into the side of a whale carcass.

A 20 metre long blue whale washed up at a beach in Punta Delgada before the Chilean Navy cordoned off the giant mammal on February 18 to allow scientists to conduct research.

But following its discovery, the behaviour of a handful of visitors to the beach has been branded as "shameful" by wildlife officials after the whale's skin became subject to several engravings and graffiti.

The dead whale washed up on a beach in southern Chile last weekend. Source: Twitter/ Rodrigo Saavedra
The dead whale washed up on a beach in southern Chile last weekend. Source: Twitter/ Rodrigo Saavedra

“This is an insensitive and shameful act,” Estefanía González, oceans campaigner for Greenpeace Chile, told Fox News.

Others were seen posing for photos with the dead whale while two women climbed on top before gesturing peace signs with their fingers.

Liz Lewis, director of field operations for Springcreek Conservation, an educational organization that financially supports the Museum of Natural History of Rio Seco, believes such behaviour from visitors shows a complete lack of respect for the species.

Wildlife officials have been appalled by the behaviour of some tourists visiting the carcass. Source: Twitter/ Rodrigo Saavedra
Wildlife officials have been appalled by the behaviour of some tourists visiting the carcass. Source: Twitter/ Rodrigo Saavedra

“The horrific behavior displayed by these individuals is a sign of the disregard and disrespect of the truly spiritual creatures that ply our oceans," she said.

Images of the damage and behaviour were shared to Twitter on Sunday by user Rodrigo Saavedra and quickly garnered a string of comments condemning the offending beachgoers' actions.

"We are the worst plague this poor planet has had," one user wrote.

The whale's skin has been engraved by beachgoers. Source: Twitter/ Rodrigo Saavedra
The whale's skin has been engraved by beachgoers. Source: Twitter/ Rodrigo Saavedra

“I know that we’re not all equal, not all would have to mourn as I would, but my first thought would not be to climb up, pose, smiling and leave my name in his body," another comment read.

Despite the official cause of death yet to be determined, González believes the whale may have died of algal bloom where poisoned seafood is consumed following the contamination of the water.

She believes the contamination could be down to the local salmon farming industry.

Lewis, who says starvation could also be another possible cause of death, believes there is a long way to go in educating society about the planet's wildlife following the whale's desecration.

“Much work is still needed in the education and awareness of our natural environment and all the species that live within it," she said.