Rare Bryde's whale stranded
The carcass of an offshore Bryde's whale was found stranded on the beach in the vicinity of Mile 4 on Thursday.
According to Simon Elwen from the Namibia Dolphin Project, the identification of the animal is as positive as can be without genetic confirmation.
“It looks like it may have died at sea from being hit by a ship. There is a big injury in the middle of the animal's body consistent with a ship strike,” he said.
The whale was female and about 15 metres in length. According to Elwen, it was difficult to measure the animal as she was lying in a curved position.
This very rare species of whale lives in warmer water (higher than 16°C) near the equator all year round. According to Elwen the last stranding of this type of whale along the Namibian coastline was in August 2014.
“We are trying to keep the entire carcass to have the skeleton available for research in the future. There are no skeletons of this population available anywhere in the world and it is important for an accurate description of the species.
“We are coordinating with the fisheries ministry and the Swakopmund municipality to achieve this,” he said.
Other records of stranded Bryde's whales in Namibia date back to 2003, some from the inshore community which was previously only thought to occur in South Africa, and at least one other from the offshore community.
JESSICA BOTES
According to Simon Elwen from the Namibia Dolphin Project, the identification of the animal is as positive as can be without genetic confirmation.
“It looks like it may have died at sea from being hit by a ship. There is a big injury in the middle of the animal's body consistent with a ship strike,” he said.
The whale was female and about 15 metres in length. According to Elwen, it was difficult to measure the animal as she was lying in a curved position.
This very rare species of whale lives in warmer water (higher than 16°C) near the equator all year round. According to Elwen the last stranding of this type of whale along the Namibian coastline was in August 2014.
“We are trying to keep the entire carcass to have the skeleton available for research in the future. There are no skeletons of this population available anywhere in the world and it is important for an accurate description of the species.
“We are coordinating with the fisheries ministry and the Swakopmund municipality to achieve this,” he said.
Other records of stranded Bryde's whales in Namibia date back to 2003, some from the inshore community which was previously only thought to occur in South Africa, and at least one other from the offshore community.
JESSICA BOTES
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