Dead 17-meter, 30-ton whale washed up near Farewell Spit to be floated, towed at high tide

Despite rescue efforts, a 17-meter beached whale near Farewell Spit has died.

The animal died at 9.25 pm on Friday, confirmed the Department of Conservation (DOC). It was believed to be a sei whale, the third largest species in the world, weighing around 30 tons.

DOC Biodiversity Ranger Mike Ogle said the whale appeared to be a healthy weight and had no signs of trauma or injury. They are still trying to determine what caused the beach.

Around 30 volunteers, as well as DOC staff and the local iwi, worked into the night to keep the whale moist and cool.

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DOC staff and volunteers are returning to the site with ropes and floats to try to re-float the whale and tow it into the marshes at high tide, which is around 2 pm. Ogle said that due to the size of the whale, a larger boat had to be hired.

The iwi are on the beach and a kaumātua will say a karakia before beginning to move the animal.

Project Jonah, a non-profit organization focused on rescuing marine mammals, said in a social media post that locals were quick to attend the site and provide care for the whale.

“This tragic event is a reminder that there may be a number of underlying reasons why a beached whale and that not all beached whales can be saved,” the publication read.

The cause of death was not obvious and even if a necropsy were performed, it might not be conclusive, said Jonah New Zealand Project General Manager Daren Grover.

“It could have been riddled with parasites, it could have been hit by a ship, it could be old age,” he said, adding that the cause of death could have been a combination of these factors and others.

Blood at the site may be from superficial wounds. The whales had thin skin and could move when stressed, hitting shells on the beach and causing them to bleed, he said.

Grover and Ogle suggested that people stay away from the scene.

Members of the public would no longer be called to help and it could be distressing to see the dead whale, considering the poor condition it was in after it reached the beach.

A sperm whale that washed ashore and died off Rabbit Island, near Nelson, in late 2016, was anchored and left to decompose.

Bruce Schwartfeger, a local resident, was among those who had been on the beach helping to pour water on the whale.

He estimated that the whale was 12 to 14 meters long and some 30 volunteers had been helping to care for it, although its condition was deteriorating.

“He didn’t seem happy, he was foaming from his nostril. It’s not good, ”he said.

Project Jonah said Friday that the whale did not appear healthy.

“There are concerns about the whale’s health and it shows signs of poor condition. The tide is rising and the water will be around the whale soon, so no further help is needed at this stage, ”the organization said in a Facebook post.

Department of Conservation (DOC) rangers had been on the scene offering assistance.

The volunteers collected buckets of water and draped cloths over the animal, which appeared to have suffered a cut and was losing a significant amount of blood.

“There’s not much you can do, it’s a pretty huge animal,” he said.

Grover said Project Jonah had about 4,500 volunteers in New Zealand helping with its goal of protecting marine mammals and oceans. The charity delivered first aid to stranded or injured animals through its network of doctors trained in marine mammals.

“People are attracted to them [stranded whales]Grover said. “People want to help them. Our trained volunteers help members of the public, guiding them in the right way. [to help]. “