Four pygmy sperm whales washed up along the Diaz Beach shoreline in Mossel Bay on Tuesday, 20 December. Take a look…
By: Corné van Zyl
Four pygmy sperm whales washed out on Diaz Beach in Mossel Bay on Tuesday afternoon.
LOOK AT THE FOUR PYGMY SPERM WHALES THAT WASHED OUT IN MOSSEL BAY
The Mossel Bay Municipality‘s environmental team has closed the beach until further notice while efforts were being made to rescue the whales.
From provisional reports, three adults and one juvenile whale were stranded.
Unfortunately, all four pygmy sperm whales died.
ALSO READ: SEE: HUGE whale washes up on Cape Town beach
UNFORTUNATELY, ALL FOUR PYGMY SPERM WHALES DIED
Pygmy sperm whales are mainly a deep-water species and are usually seen beyond the edge of the continental shelf.
According to Siyabona Africa, Pygmy sperm whales are relatively common off the south-eastern coast of the USA and around southern Africa, south-eastern Australia, and New Zealand.
HERE ARE FIVE INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT PYGMY SPERM WHALES:
- Pygmy Sperm Whales are small in size, robust Body with a squarish head which looks conical when viewed from above with false gill behind each eye.
- Their bodies may appear wrinkled. It may resemble a shark when it is stranded, as its underslung lower jaw and creamy white false gill are particularly apparent.
- When startled, may evacuate a reddish-brown intestinal fluid and then dive, leaving behind a dense cloud in the water; this may function as a decoy, like the ink of a squid. Blow inconspicuously and low.
- The Pygmy Sperm Whale can measure between 2.7 – 3.4 metres and the calves are about 1.2 metres long when they are born.
- Adults Pygmy Sperm Whale weigh between 315 – 400 kg and newborns 55 kg.
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU FIND A STRANDED ANIMAL ON THE BEACH?
While your first instinct may be to rush to its rescue, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure your and the animal’s safety.
Here are a few tips:
- Observe the animal from a distance. Spend time watching it to establish whether it seems to be in distress, pain, or discomfort.
- Keep other people and pets away from investigating it.
- Don’t touch it; pick it up or pour water on it. Even if it does seem in need of help, remain at a safe distance. Remember that these creatures are wild and may cause you to harm out of a sheer instinctive need to protect themselves. Apart from this, your presence may cause further stress.
- Don’t try to return it to the ocean. Some marine animals, such as seals, often make their way to shore to rest and would not appreciate you ushering them back into the waves. Just because the seal is not moving, or sitting alone, does not mean it is sick or in need of help.
- Report! If it does seem like the animal is in obvious distress or pain, it should be reported to the relevant authorities. Time is of the essence, especially for whales and dolphins that have beached.
- Don’t move from the spot until the rescue team arrives. They might need you to describe the scene before their arrival.
