Death of bryde's whale under investigation after it washed ashore in north Auckland

Friday, 2 October 2020

Samples have been taken for analysis from the calf brydes whale to determine its cause of death after it washed ashore on Pakiri beach.

The death of a bryde’s whale calf is being investigated by the Department of Conservation after it washed ashore in north Auckland.

It was found washed up on Pakiri beach and reported to DOC on September 18.

Samples have been taken for analysis to determine its cause of death.

“At this stage the cause of death has not been confirmed. The analysis is still underway and no further information can be provided until this is completed,” a DOC spokeswoman said.

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Iwi Ngāti Manuhiri buried the whale on the same day it was found. Kaumātua Ringi Brown gave it the name Te Tai which is derived from the phrase Ki uta, ki tai – from the land to the ocean.

Molly Hicks, DOC’s biodiversity supervisor in Warkworth, confirmed it was a seven-metre calf brydes whale.

“The carcass is covered by a lot of healed and healing cookie-cutter shark bites indicating the calf had been at subtropical latitudes at some stage,” DOC’s shark expert Clinton Duffy added.

In New Zealand, bryde’s whales are most seen between the north and east capes and are found year-round in the Hauraki Gulf.

The whales have been observed in the Pacific (north and south), Atlantic and Indian oceans.

DOC took the opportunity to remind those planning on going out onto the water to not approach whales closer than 50 metres as it is illegal.

Any accidental striking of whales and dolphins should be reported.

If there is a whale or dolphin stranding, it needs to be reported immediately to the Coastguard and DOC.