Pygmy Sperm Whale humanely euthanized by SPCA

STATION 10 SIMON’S TOWN and STATION 16 STRANDFONTEIN

MUIZENBERG Saturday 19th May 2012.

At 08h40 the NSRI were requested by the Department of Environmental Affairs – Oceans and Coasts, to investigate eye-witness reports of a small whale reportedly beached at Surfers Corner, Muizenberg on the False Bay Coast.

Sea Rescue Simonstown volunteers responded to the scene where a 2.5 meter Pygmy Sperm Whale was found on rocks in the surf at the Southern corner of surfers corner. Members of the public were attempting to swim the whale out to sea but on each attempt the whale washed back onto the rocks.

NSRI Strandfontein sea rescue volunteers were placed on alert to respond if further assistance was required.

The whale was found to be badly scratched and sustained lacerations suspected to have been caused by the rocks. While it is unknown how long the whale had been there reports from eye-witnesses suggested it had first been spotted at sunrise indicating that it may have come ashore during the night.

NSRI Simonstown sea rescue volunteers remained on-scene while marine specialists, from the Department of Environmental Affairs – Oceans and Coasts, and Veterinary Surgeons from the SPCA responded to the scene. The marine specialists and SPCA officers, assisted by Table Mountain National Parks Rangers, removed the whale from the shoreline and it was transported to the SPCA veterinary clinic in Grassy Park where it was found to be too badly injured to be saved, was euthanized humanely.

The carcass of the whale has been transported to the Department of Environmental Affairs – Oceans and Coasts laboratories for further study and attempts to try to establish the cause of death.

- NSRI