Struisbaai residents and nature lovers were shocked when they heard about the adult sperm whale stranded in the surf zone in front of Langezandt Fisherman’s Village in Struisbaai on 27 May.
Don Marx, a whale observer knowledgeable about the various species, particularly those off the Southern Cape and False Bay coast, commented on Facebook: “When first light broke this morning my father and mom went to check on the whale but it it had sadly died. They sent me through some photos of this truly incredible creature of the deep. We don’t encounter many sperm whales off the coast of South Africa; I saw a pod of four once, off the canyon at Cape Point.”
According to Marx sperm whales are the largest-toothed whale, males reaching up to 18 m and weighing up to 57 tons. They have been recorded diving more than 3 000 m for over 60 minutes. “They possess the most asymmetrical skull of any mammal and have the most powerful echolocation sonar of any animal. The spermaceti organ, located in their forehead, contains a waxy liquid called spermaceti, which is thought to be involved in buoyancy control and echolocation. The spermaceti oil was the reason they were almost hunted into extinction.”
The Department of Forestry, Fishery and Environment (DFFE) also confirmed this tragic event. “On 27 May DFFE officials visited the site to meet with municipal representatives and witness the situation first-hand. By this time the whale carcass had begun decomposing, making further sampling impossible. However, not all is lost, stakeholders were able to collect valuable scientific data while the specimen was still fresh.”
Furthermore, the South African National Strandings Network has recommended that the skeleton be preserved as reference material for researchers, scholars and the interested public. “Coordination is now underway among the DFFE, South African National Parks and Agulhas National Park to make this possible,” the DFFE said in a statement.
Experts confirmed sperm-whale strandings in South Africa are very rare, “which is unsurprising given that they are deep-water whales, which are seldom seen close to shore,” the department said. “The last recorded sperm-whale stranding in SA prior to this was in August 2018 at Swartvlei Beach, near Sedgefield, when a dead 16,37 m sperm whale washed ashore.”
What to do if you see stranded marine animals:
* Report the stranding: Immediately contact the NSRI’s Emergency Operations Centre on 087 094 9774. Provide them with the exact location of the animal, its condition (alive, dead or injured) and any other relevant information.
* Secure the area: Keep other members of the public, pets and other animals away from the stranded whale to prevent further stress and potential injury.
* Protect yourself: Be cautious around the whale, as it may be injured or in distress. Avoid direct contact with the animal, especially with its tail, as it can cause injury.
* Be quiet and calm: Excessive noise and disturbance will only further stress the animal. Keep your movements around the whale quiet and calm.
* Follow instructions: The relevant authorities will provide guidance and instructions on how to assist with the stranding. Follow their directions carefully.
* Consider taking photos: If possible, take photos of the whale from a safe distance to help authorities assess its condition and location.
