First Massive Blue Whale in 30 years washes up Dead, New Zealand *5 PICS*

02/05/2011

MATT and CLAIRE HONEYFIELD

Waiinu Beach in South Taranaki was the final destination for huge sea monsters as two giant whales washed ashore in the past three days.

Residents of Waitotara were surprised to discover what is believed to be a dead 22.3m-long pygmy blue whale washed up on the beach,

about 1.5km south of the river mouth, sometime on late Friday night or early Saturday morning.

A Wanganui Department of Conservation spokesman said if this was a pygmy blue whale, it was a rare specimen and the only one of its kind to have washed up on this coastline for at least 30 years.

Then overnight Sunday a large sperm whale stranded itself on the beach.

Unable to re-float the large mammal, DOC staff had to put the sperm whale down.

static2.stuff.co.nz

Fiar Use: Educational