Two whales were found stranded near the Spencer Park Surf Life Saving Club in Christchurch on Tuesday evening, the Department of Conservation (DOC) has confirmed.
DOC Mahaanui Operations Manager Andy Thompson told chrislynchmedia.com the whales were deceased when rangers arrived on-site and have since been buried.
“Staff identified the whales as beaked whales, likely Gray’s beaked whales. Tissue samples were taken to confirm the species,” Thompson said.
DOC worked closely with representatives from Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tūāhuriri to ensure appropriate tikanga was observed, ensuring the whales, regarded as taonga, were treated with respect.
The cause of death remains unknown.
Gray’s beaked whales are the most common beaked whale species to strand in New Zealand.
The elusive marine mammals are rarely seen at sea but occasionally wash up along the country’s coastline.
For more information about beaked whales, visit Beaked Whales: New Zealand Marine Mammals.
