|
Remains of rare whale to be studied
A young 12 foot beaked whale, which stranded off Hamoa Bay, Hawaii and died had been bitten by Cookiecutter sharks. The 1,000-pound animal was flown to Honolulu where a necropsy and other studies could reveal new secrets about this little known species.
 |
Photos revealed either a Cuvier's beaked whale or a Blainville's beaked whale but the necropsy will reveal which. Beaked whales are so rare and spend most of their time so far offshore that little is known about them and for many decades no one had seen a live one, only bones washed up on beaches. |
Whale researcher Robin Baird of Cascadia Research has been heading a years long attempt to find, photograph and track beaked whales around Hawaii so although this recent incident is a sad situation when such a rare whale strands and dies, it gives scientists a rare opportunity to study them. The animal had many fresh marks from cookiecutter sharks, which could mean that the whale may have been ill for some time as although these sharks take occasional bites out of healthy whales, the number of bites on this whale was unusual, mainly around its stomach area.
After the necopsy, the remains will be sent to Hawaii Pacific University, which is the archive for whales from Hawaii and American Pacific territories. Since all marine mammals are protected, only organisations with National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration permits are allowed to keep whales, even dead ones.
|
