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Found on Ninety Mile Beach by Ali and Cameron Perkins and their eco-tourist discovered this already-dead cetacean. They took diagnostic photographs and reported their find. As soon as Dr Visser saw the photographs she was able to identify it as a pygmy killer whale - the first time this species had been recorded (dead or alive) in New Zealand waters.
She immediately contacted Anton van Helden, the curartor of marine mammals at Te Papa Tongarewa (the National Museum of New Zealand). Despite being based down in Wellington, Anton began the long drive north immediately and on the 31st of Dec he conducted a full boning out of the skeleton, with Dr Visser assisting.
| Name | Pygmy killer whale |
|---|---|
| Image |
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| Suborder | Odontoceti |
| Family | Delphinidae |
| Max. size - Male | 2.6 m (8.5 ft) |
| Calf size | 80 cm (2.6 ft) |
| Max. weight - Male | 225 kg |
| Food | mixed diet of squid and fish |
| Latin name | Feresa atenuata |
| Location | Ninety Mile Beach, Nortland |
|---|---|
| Latitude | -35.01385070000001 |
| Longitude | 173.15840609999998 |
| Number of Whales | 1 (Already dead) |
Ingrid has attended numerous mass and individual strandings. She is experienced in sampling and data collection at these events, and in the use of refloatation Rescue Pontoons and other rescue equipment. She has served on the Board and was a trainer for another stranding rescue group.
Ngati Kuri (Northland Iwi), who have allowed for the skeleton of this cetacean to be part of the permanent collection at Te Papa Tongarewa. Therefore Te Papa Tongarewa will be guardians of the specimen on their behalf.
Department of Conservation kindly secured the carcass and provided a site the boning out could be peformed.
Thanks also to Wade Doak for passing on the photographs and to Ali and Cameron Perkins for making the effort to take them in the first place and for their efforts to report this very valuable event.
Whale Rescue is a volunteer organisation, run by volunteers. There are lots of different ways that you can help us to continue rescuing whales and dolphins.