Volunteers on high alert after pilot whale calf washes up on Christchurch beach
Thursday, 21 January 2021
Hundreds of whale rescue volunteers have been alerted over fears of a mass whale stranding after a pilot whale calf washed up on a Christchurch beach.
Animal welfare charity Project Jonah alerted its 260 Christchurch volunteers after the whale was found dead on North Beach in New Brighton at about 7.30am on Thursday.
Project Jonah communications and volunteer manager Louisa Hawkes said the calf was “relatively fresh” and in a “reasonable condition”, suggesting a pilot whale pod may be nearby.
“Fetal folds are still visible, meaning the animal is most likely less than six months old.”
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She said the species was well known for mass strandings, and so volunteers were alerted and the Department of Conservation (DOC) notified.
“We don’t know yet why this whale has washed up but just in case something happens [we’re] making sure we are ready.
“We have sent out a precautionary alert to our local marine mammal medics in the central Christchurch region, asking them to have their rescue gear ready just in case any further whales strand.
“It’s an unusual event to have a pilot whale calf wash up and because we know pilot whales live in such large pods and the reason that they strand en masse is usually because when one gets into trouble they call the others to shore.”
Strandings tend to increase during the summer months, Hawkes said, as the number of whale species in New Zealand’s waters swell during this time.
Whales also often feed closer to shore as water temperatures increase.
“It’s important that people do keep an eye out on their beaches and if they do find any marine mammals, whale or dolphins in distress to call for help as soon as possible.”
Members of the public on the beach were told by DOC staff that the cause of the whale's death was likely to be a brain parasite.
A Ngāi Tahu representative has also been at scene and are helping DOC prepare for a burial, at another site.
The calf’s body has been removed.
DOC Mahaanui operations manager Andy Thompson said the authority is working with Te Ngāi Tūāhuriri Rūnanga to ensure the whale is buried appropriately.
The cause of death is currently not known, he said.
Hawkes said members of the public should keep an eye out for any other strandings and if they see anything they should contact Project Jonah and DOC.
Canterbury, while not a hotspot for strandings, still has its fair share of such incidents.
Project Jonah general manager Daren Grover previously told Stuff the charity is called to about one event a month in the region.
One of the most high-profile strandings he can remember happened on Banks Peninsula 10 years ago.
“Around 60 pilot whales ran aground at Port Levy. With help from locals, around 40 of them were able to be refloated.”
Three years ago, a pod of false killer whales almost stranded in Akaroa, but they managed to make a lucky escape.
“Two did end up getting stuck in New Brighton, and one unfortunately died. We ended up successfully refloating the second, in front of a crowd of thousands who came down to the beach to take a look.”
The second stranding DOC has in its records was in Canterbury in 1846, when an Annoux’s beaked whale washed ashore near Akaroa.
Between then and 2015, about 348 whales and dolphins were found to have stranded in the region, with the 2010 Port Levy stranding the biggest.
WHO TO CALL:
Members of the public who stumble across a marine mammal in distress can call Project Jonah’s 24-hour hotline on 0800 4 WHALE (0800 4 94253), or DOC’s hotline on 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468).
Project Jonah advises that if all else fails, people can call 111 and inform police.