Reports on a stranded sei whale in Farewell Spit, New Zealand, reached Project Jonah in the early afternoon. The team arrived quickly on site to assess the whale’s health and situation. With an estimated length of 17 metres, it was soon determined that it would not be possible to move the animal back to sea. Instead, they would have to wait until the tide was high enough and hope that the whale would refloat itself.
Meanwhile, almost 30 volunteers had joined the team to keep the animal cool and moist. Sadly, initial health concerns proved to be true as the whale’s condition deteriorated and it died on the beach before the tide came back in.
A certain cause of death could not be determined. Visible blood loss was most likely due to several cuts after trashing on the beach. After a blessing by the Iwi, the whale was towed out during high tide to compose in the sea. Project Jonah finished by stating that “this tragic event is a reminder that there may be several underlying reasons why a whale strands and that not all stranded whales can be saved.”
The full article can be found here: Dead 17-metre, 30 tonne beached whale near Farewell Spit to be refloated, towed out at high tide | Stuff.co.nz
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