12 tonne sperm whales die after stranding on New Zealand beach

Yahoo News ^ | AP

[PeteFromMontana]

AUCKLAND (AFP) - A pod of 12 sperm whales, some 10 metres long and weighing up to 12 tonnes, have beached themselves on Auckland's west coast and died.

The whales, thought to be mostly females with a young calf, were stranded over a five kilometre (three mile) stretch of beach at the mouth of Manukau Harbour, drawing a crowd of about 1,500 curious onlookers Sunday.

It was not clear why the animals became marooned but it was "a significant stranding event" of sperm whales, the like of which had not been seen for 20 to 30 years, Department of Conservation (DOC) officer Karl McLeod.

Professor Scott Baker of Auckland University, who has taken DNA samples to carry out genetic testing on the animals, said the theory of whale stranding was that one animal, possibly a herd leader, got into trouble and the rest followed.

"Sperm whales are deep water animals rarely seen close to the coast but once a family member gets distressed they seem to follow the herd leader," he said.

Sperm whales are designed to float in the ocean and when out of water their extreme weight crushes their internal organs and they die under the pressure.

"Once they are on the beach, it's all over," he said.

Despite a round-the-clock security operation to deter poachers after the whales were found Saturday, one of the animals was butchered for its jawbone.

McLeod said teeth from the jawbone could be worth up to 200 New Zealand dollars (126 US) each.

But DOC was allowing a team of specialists to remove jawbones from the rest of the whales.

Auckland region DOC boss Rob McCallum said cutting out the jawbones could take up to three days and burial in the sand dunes another two.

[PeteFromMontana]

I absolutely refuse to say one thing about Hillary Clinton, and I would not expect a single Monica dress comment either!

[billorites]

"Once they are on the beach, it's all over," he said.

That was my strategic dating plan in high school.

[piasa]

I thought Bill Clinton was in China and South Korea this week.

[shaggy eel]

McLeod said teeth from the jawbone could be worth up to 200 New Zealand dollars (126 US) each.

,,, yeah, but the "guardians of the land" get those.

[rface]

is this about the Clintons??".....once a family member gets distressed they seem to follow the herd leader,"

if Cap'n Ahab, upon seeing the great sperm whale, cried out "There she Blows!" ..... what did Bill C. say when he invited his sperm whale into his office??

[gitmo]

A dead sperm whale lies beached at Croppies Point on the north coast of Tasmania. A pod of 12 sperm whales, some 10 metres long and weighing up to 12 tonnes, have beached themselves on Auckland's west coast and died.(AFP/File/Tim Hughes)

[GATOR NAVY]

Auckland region DOC boss Rob McCallum said cutting out the jawbones could take up to three days and burial in the sand dunes another two.

They must have heard about these guys: The Infamous Exploding Whale

[PeteFromMontana]

I ............. can't...............type......


cannot..................


stop.....................

laughing............................


OMG.............................


That was incredible, thank you

[VOA]

I would not expect a single Monica dress comment

Well, it's hard to tell from the photo, but apparently the whale wouldn't be
caught dead wearing a thong.

But about Monica, did you see the tabloid photos posted here in the last
couple of weeks?
My immediate comment was "Holy Cow!"
I was mistaken. It should have been "Holy Whale!"

[Travis McGee]

I hope the useable products are at least harvested. The teeth for example, for scrimshaw artwork, the spermacetti oil etc.

[DCBryan1]

Dude, that was awesome...we need more of that on primetime tv.

Hopefully some spotted wood owls would land on the carcass, joining the California Condors before the timer reached zero;)

[DCBryan1]

Explosive PING!

[cyborg]

Did you pee in the ocean again???

[shaggy eel]

I hope the useable products are at least harvested.

,,, the Maoris have set themselves up as "guardians of the land", which means the sea as well. They automatically get the whale teeth as the whale has respect thru legends handed down over generations. If I wanted to be a guardian of the land my motives would be questioned.

[shaggy eel]

Did you pee in the ocean again???

,,, I have an affinity with my environment. From time to time I do what I can.

[Travis McGee]

That figures, they'd probably give them to the nearest tribe of indians here in the states.