A second beaked whale to be stranded within 24 hours in
Southland was euthanised yesterday by the Department of
Conservation.
The female adult whale stranded at Sandy Point, near the tip
of Oreti Beach at the mouth of Invercargill's New River
Estuary.
DoC acting area manager for Murihiku/Southern Islands Alan
Christie said the department was notified about the whale
yesterday morning after it was spotted from an aeroplane
flying over the area.
The discovery came less than a day after an unsuccessful
attempt by Doc and the Omaui community to rescue a female
beaked whale calf stranded on Omaui Beach, on the opposite
side of the estuary.
Mr Christie said they could not determine whether the adult
was the calf's mother but they were "making the assumption"
the two animals were part of the same group.
Several other whales of the same species were seen swimming
in the channel on Sunday, he said.
"We believe they're of that same group."
The adult whale was in significant distress and "taking into
account the tides", staff made the decision to euthanise the
whale about 7pm, Mr Christie said.
Samples would be taken from the whale for scientific
analysis.
- Robert Landreth of the Southland Express
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