'Mermaid-Like' Creature Washes Ashore In Papua New Guinea, Leaves Experts Baffled

The strange decaying mass resembling a mermaid was found by people on Simberi Island in Papua New Guinea's Bismarck Sea

'Mermaid-like' creature washes ashore in Papua New Guinea

Source : New Irelanders Only/Facebook

We have only heard about mermaids in stories, but a 'mermaid-like' creature washed up on a beach in Papua New Guinea leaving scientists perplexed and wanting to know more about it. Images shared on Facebook show a white lump of decaying flesh that is ‘shaped like a mermaid’.

The strange decaying mass resembling a mermaid was found by people on Simberi Island in Papua New Guinea's Bismarck Sea on September 20.

"Strange dead sea creature shaped like a mermaid washed onto the shoreline in Simberi Island this morning. Anyone with the explanation to identify this creature?” reads the caption of the post shared along with the pictures by Facebook page called "New Irelanders Only."

 The mysterious white mass is, by definition, considered to be a globster, a term used for masses of marine flesh that are sometimes found on beaches in varying states of decay, reported the News York post.

Marine mammal specialist, Sascha Hooker speaking to Live Science said "it looks like a very decomposed cetacean." She explained that large mammals like whales or dolphins, are known to turn white as a ghost when deceased.

While Erich Hoyt, a researcher at Whale and Dolphin Conservation in the UK, believes the globster is a dugong, or sea cow. He is certain that whatever was recovered has "been dead for weeks."

The post was shared on Facebook last month but has continued to generate interest amongst the user.

"Clearly it's some kind of fish or sea creature. It's definitely not a mermaid, there is no distinguished feature for a mermaid present," commented one user.

"Looking at it, it may be a dead shark or a premature baby whale. The bone structure might share some light on this creature," wrote another user.

While another wrote, "Why not have a sample tested out in a lab?."