Rare whale found dead a day after being rescued

The Shepherd’s beaked whale was first spotted around midday, on Tuesday 3rd of March. It stranded in Auckland’s St Helier’s Bay, prompting multiple calls to the Department of Conservation (DOC). 

One man, Shaun Lee, jumped in the water by himself, attempting to keep the ‘three-tonne’ animal off the beach. 

“Between dodging its powerful tail and big teeth, worrying about the whale, and communicating with experts, it was a short but serious physical and emotional challenge,” he shared online. 

He estimates the whale was re-floated about six hours later, thanks to the work from a DOC team, and Project Jonah New Zealand. 

DOC’s Mainland Auckland Operations Manager Bec Rush told rova that local iwi and members of the public also stepped in, refloating the whale on the rising tide by mid-afternoon. 

Then it was found dead the next day, on Wednesday the 4th. 

Rush said it washed up near Hobsonville.

“We were aware there was a likelihood that it may either strand again or possibly be found dead because no one really knows… why it stranded - it possibly wasn’t well, because it was inshore.”

The species typically lives in underwater canyons, near coastal areas such as Kaikoura where the water is deep. 

“We have taken tissue samples for scientific analysis and are working alongside mana whenua to remove the remains from the current spot to a suitable burial site.”

New Zealand records show just 11 confirmed sightings of groups of the species swimming at sea. 

In a statement, Dave Lundquist, Senior Marine Science Advisor at DOC, explained it’s because the species is only found in the southern hemisphere. 

“The Shepherd’s beaked whale status in New Zealand is Data Deficient, as we do not know how many of these animals there are, nor whether that number is increasing or decreasing over time.”

They’re unique for having functional teeth in both the upper and lower jaws. 

Rush told rova the loss is a reminder to keep vigilant. 

“If members of the public are out and about on our beaches or coastline and they see a whale or a dolphin in trouble, we really appreciate a call as soon as they can through to our DOC hotline: 0800 DOC HOT. Then we can respond and give these marine mammals a chance to be refloated, or deal with their remains properly.”

Image supplied by DOC Principal Ranger David Wilson