Beaked whales are not a commonly encountered species, but Cuvier's beaked whale, Ziphiuscavirostris, is the most cosmopolitan. Nonetheless, little is known of its distribution in the north-eastern Indian Ocean, particularly along the coasts of India, Pakistan and Iran. Here we present the first confirmed record of the species for Pakistan from a stranded specimen that was found during a routine beach survey. None have been seen during inshore boat surveys to date. Considering the level of naval activity and seismic surveys in the waters off Pakistan, incorporation of mitigating measures and monitoring surveys are suggested to avoid potential beaked whale mortality. This is the first confirmed record of Z. cavirostris on the Pakistani coast and is an important finding for the Pakistan Biodiversity Action Plan and their National Conservation Strategy for marine mammals.
