Rare whale found washed up on New Zealand beach, unveiling vital clues about species
5 months, 3 weeks ago

Rare whale found washed up on New Zealand beach, unveiling vital clues about species

Hindustan Times  

With no documented live sightings, spade-toothed whales are the rarest whales in the world. New Zealand Department of Conservation shows rangers Jim Fyfe and Tumai Cassidy walking beside what appears to be the carcass of a rare spade-toothed whale after it was discovered washed ashore on a beach near Taieri Mouth in New Zealand's southern Otago province. Only six other spade-toothed whales have ever been pinpointed, and those found intact on New Zealand’s North Island beaches were buried before DNA testing could verify their identification, Hendriks said, thwarting any chance to study them. The first spade-toothed whale bones were found in 1872 on New Zealand’s Pitt Island. Firstly mistaken for one of New Zealand’s 13 other more common types of beaked whale, tissue samples — taken before they were buried — later revealed them as the enigmatic species.

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History of this topic

New Zealand scientists suspect specimen of world’s rarest whale died from head injuries
4 weeks, 1 day ago

New Zealand scientists suspect specimen of world’s rarest whale died from head injuries

Associated Press  

MELBOURNE, Australia — Scientists suspect the first complete specimen ever recorded of the world’s rarest whale died from head injuries, an expert said Friday. The first dissection of a spade-toothed whale, a type of beaked whale, was completed last week after a painstaking examination at a research center near the New Zealand city of Dunedin, the local people who led …

New Zealand scientists dissect world's rarest whale
1 month, 1 week ago

New Zealand scientists dissect world's rarest whale

Raw Story  

New Zealand scientists on Monday began dissecting a whale considered the rarest in the world, a species so elusive that only seven specimens have ever been documented. The dead spade-toothed whale washed ashore on New Zealand's South Island earlier this year, offering a chance to study a deep-sea mammal that has never been seen alive. New Zealand's conservation department said …

This whale species is so rare it’s never been seen alive. A dissection may decode its mysteries
1 month, 1 week ago

This whale species is so rare it’s never been seen alive. A dissection may decode its mysteries

Associated Press  

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — It is the world’s rarest whale, with only seven of its kind ever spotted. “I can’t tell you how extraordinary it is,” said a joyful Anton van Helden, senior marine science adviser for New Zealand’s conservation agency, who gave the spade-toothed whale its name to distinguish it from other beaked species. “For me personally, it’s unbelievable.” …

New Zealand scientists dissect world's rarest whale
1 month, 1 week ago

New Zealand scientists dissect world's rarest whale

Deccan Chronicle  

Wellington: New Zealand scientists on Monday began dissecting a whale considered the rarest in the world, a species so elusive that only seven specimens have ever been documented. The dead spade-toothed whale washed ashore on New Zealand's South Island earlier this year, offering a chance to study a deep-sea mammal that has never been seen alive. New Zealand's conservation department …

New Zealand locals help rescue more than 30 whales stranded on beach
1 month, 2 weeks ago

New Zealand locals help rescue more than 30 whales stranded on beach

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Four of the pilot whales died, New Zealand’s conservation …

New Zealanders save more than 30 stranded whales by lifting them on sheets
1 month, 2 weeks ago

New Zealanders save more than 30 stranded whales by lifting them on sheets

Associated Press  

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — More than 30 pilot whales that stranded themselves on a beach in New Zealand were safely returned to the ocean after conservation workers and residents helped to refloat them by lifting them on sheets. Four of the pilot whales died, New Zealand’s conservation agency said. New Zealand is a whale stranding hotspot and pilot whales are …

Scientists may have discovered a rare spade-toothed whale
5 months, 3 weeks ago

Scientists may have discovered a rare spade-toothed whale

NPR  

Scientists may have discovered a rare spade-toothed whale Scientists in New Zealand have discovered what they believe may be a rare spade-toothed whale - a creature that's never been spotted alive at sea. And for biologists like Anton van Helden with New Zealand's Department of Conservation, it was almost like finding an alien on Earth. And though van Helden is …

The world’s rarest whale has never been seen alive – scientists may have a breakthrough
5 months, 3 weeks ago

The world’s rarest whale has never been seen alive – scientists may have a breakthrough

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. open image in gallery Rangers inspect …

Has a spade-toothed whale washed up on a beach? Scientists are scrambling to find out
5 months, 3 weeks ago

Has a spade-toothed whale washed up on a beach? Scientists are scrambling to find out

CNN  

CNN — It’s a creature of the deep so rare that there’s never been a recorded live sighting, and since the 1800s only six samples have ever been documented. Now, experts in New Zealand are scrambling to confirm whether a 5-meter carcass that recently washed ashore on the country’s South Island is the near-mythical spade-toothed whale. “This whale species is …

World’s rarest whale may have washed up on New Zealand beach, possibly shedding clues on species
5 months, 3 weeks ago

World’s rarest whale may have washed up on New Zealand beach, possibly shedding clues on species

Associated Press  

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Spade-toothed whales are the world’s rarest, with no live sightings ever recorded. The country’s conservation agency said Monday a creature that washed up on a South Island beach this month is believed to be a spade-toothed whale. Only six other spade-toothed whales have ever been pinpointed, and those found intact on New Zealand’s North Island beaches …

At least 26 pilot whales die after mass stranding in Australia
8 months, 2 weeks ago

At least 26 pilot whales die after mass stranding in Australia

Al Jazeera  

Exact reasons for beaching unknown but mammals are highly sociable and may follow podmates into danger. At least 26 long-finned pilot whales have died, but several others were rescued, after 160 of them were stranded over a large area in Western Australia. https://t.co/H26PrW3f2o — Shark Safety WA April 25, 2024 Mass strandings of pilot whales are not uncommon in Australia …

Dead whale on New Jersey’s Long Beach Island is first of the year, stranding group says
8 months, 4 weeks ago

Dead whale on New Jersey’s Long Beach Island is first of the year, stranding group says

Associated Press  

LONG BEACH TOWNSHIP, N.J. — A dead humpback whale that washed ashore on New Jersey’s Long Beach Island on Thursday was the first such death in the state this year, according to a marine mammal rescue group. Waves crash around a dead humpback whale that washed ashore on Long Beach Township in New Jersey’s Long Beach Island on April 11, …

Huge whale washes up on Newquay beach as residents share heartbreak
1 year, 1 month ago

Huge whale washes up on Newquay beach as residents share heartbreak

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A popular beach …

Second whale in two days washes up on to a UK beach
1 year, 8 months ago

Second whale in two days washes up on to a UK beach

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Abersoch Coastguard Rescue Team announced on its Facebook page the sighting of a beached …

477 whales die in ‘heartbreaking’ New Zealand strandings
2 years, 2 months ago

477 whales die in ‘heartbreaking’ New Zealand strandings

Associated Press  

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Some 477 pilot whales have died after stranding themselves on two remote New Zealand beaches over recent days, officials say. The whales beached themselves on the Chatham Islands, which are home to about 600 people and located about 800 kilometers east of New Zealand’s main islands. “Although they are natural occurrences, they are still sad and …

477 whales die in New Zealand after ‘heartbreaking’ strandings on remote beaches
2 years, 2 months ago

477 whales die in New Zealand after ‘heartbreaking’ strandings on remote beaches

LA Times  

Dead pilot whales litter Tupuangi Beach in the Chatham Islands, about 500 miles east of New Zealand’s main islands. Some 477 pilot whales have died after stranding themselves on two remote New Zealand beaches over recent days, officials say. The whales beached themselves on the Chatham Islands, which are home to about 600 people and lie about 500 miles east …

32 pilot whales rescued out of 230 stranded in Australia
2 years, 3 months ago

32 pilot whales rescued out of 230 stranded in Australia

Associated Press  

HOBART, Australia — Wildlife experts on Thursday rescued 32 of the 230 whales that were found stranded on the wild and remote west coast of Australia’s island state of Tasmania a day earlier. Half the pod of pilot whales found stranded in Macquarie Harbour were presumed to still be alive on Wednesday, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania …

More than 200 whales found beached in Tasmania; Australian rescue efforts underway
2 years, 3 months ago

More than 200 whales found beached in Tasmania; Australian rescue efforts underway

LA Times  

A rescuer pours water on one of scores of stranded whales on Ocean Beach on Tasmania’s west coast, in Australia. About 230 whales have been stranded on Tasmania’s west coast, just days after 14 sperm whales were found beached on an island off the Australian state’s northwestern coast. The pod, which is stranded on Ocean Beach in Macquarie Harbor, appears …

Twenty nine pilot whales die after becoming stranded on New Zealand beach
2 years, 9 months ago

Twenty nine pilot whales die after becoming stranded on New Zealand beach

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Twenty nine pilot whales have died on a beach in New Zealand after being washed …

More than a dozen whales found dead on New Zealand beach
4 years, 2 months ago

More than a dozen whales found dead on New Zealand beach

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy More than a dozen whales have died after becoming stranded on New Zealand’s North Island, …

Hundreds more pilot whales found stranded on Australian coast
4 years, 3 months ago

Hundreds more pilot whales found stranded on Australian coast

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy More pilot whales were found …

Whale carcass washed ashore on South Australian beach believed to be rare species
4 years, 7 months ago

Whale carcass washed ashore on South Australian beach believed to be rare species

ABC  

The large carcass of a young whale believed to belong to a rare and endangered species has been found washed up on an isolated beach in South Australia's south-east. Key points: The 12-metre long carcass was found at Hines Bay near Port MacDonnell A ranger says it is believed to be either a fin or sei whale The last dead …

First killer whale in nearly two decades washes up on English coast with stomach full of plastic
4 years, 11 months ago

First killer whale in nearly two decades washes up on English coast with stomach full of plastic

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ …

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