A humpback whale has died after being found stuck on a sandbank at the mouth of the Waitati River, north of Dunedin on Saturday.
Project Jonah, a charitable organisation dedicated to helping marine mammals, said it responded to the stranding on Sunday morning.
In a post online, it said medics from the charity went to the beach to monitor the whale, alongside Department of Conservation rangers, Surf Life Saving NZ, and mana whenua Kāti Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki.
“It was hoped the whale would be able to free itself on the incoming tide and during this time, we consulted with several organisations through the International Whaling Commission’s Global Stranding Experts Panel to plan next steps,” the post read.
“Large stranded whales, particularly in locations like this, can be extremely difficult to refloat.”
The whale did not free itself at high tide, and showed signs of malnutrition, sickness, and significant physical injury.
The Department of Conservation, which helped with this assessment, said the whale’s condition was likely the reason it came ashore and was unable to refloat itself.
DOC operations manager Gabe Davies told RNZ the whale’s injuries could have been from a boat or ship strike.
Rescuers monitored the whale into the evening, and returned at first light on Sunday to find it deceased.
DOC would develop a plan with the local council and Kāti Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki for the respectful relocation of the whale.
