PROBLEM OF DISPOSAL OF STRANDED WHALES ARISES IN AFRICA

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6867, 23 March 1929, Page 19 (Supplement)

PROBLEM OF DISPOSAL OF STRANDED WHALES ARISES IN AFRICA

CAPE DIVISIONAL COUNCIL FACED WITH TASK The Cape Divisional Council is faced with tho gigantic task of burying 103 whales that are at present lying on the beach betweon Kommetjo and Noordhoek (says the Capo Times) of December 29. These whales appear to have been washed up during the night. Since then the lapping of tho waters around them each time tho tide comes in has successively revived them, and some of them were still alive last night. The dying struggles of some of these huge animals, as they lashed their tails in their last agonies, provided a pathetic spectacle for the few who were thcro to see them. All day long coloured people were busy cutting away big strips of dark red meat to carry to their homes a 3 food; they say the meat tastes something liko mutton. Already tho air is beginning to be polluted by the horrible odour peculiar to dead whales. The Divisional Council has taken immediate steps to cope with the situation. A man went out to the scene to report on the matter, and all arrangements were mado to send out a proper-ly-equipped gang to start work. As tho whales vary in size from 12 to 20 feet, to bury them all will bo no light task, even if, as was reported by cnc man last night, some of them have been washed back again by tho tide. _ Two representatives of the South African Musoum also visited the spot, and brought back with them a head. Dr. E. L. Gill, director of the museum, paid a personal visit, and hopes, with the assistance of the Divisional Council, to securo a full-size specimen. It was thought at first that these would prove to be some common typo of whale, but Dr. Gill told the Cape Times that, from the head ho examined, it would appear that they belong to a comparatively rare species. This is tho False Killer, so named because it resembles the Killer. Tho False Killer is, however, entirely black, whereas tho real Killer is striped, and it is also more slender.

No appearance of these whales in South African waters has ever been recorded before. Until quite recently they were supposed to constitute a very rare species; but about nine months ago a big school of them went ashore on the north-west coast of Scotland, in much the same way as these have done here, and the event caused great excitement at the time. Commercially they are worth nothing. Bondi beach is not loss thhn £3,500, and No explanation could be given of such a peculiar occurrence, said Dr. Gill, beyond tho fact that few of the smaller'types of whales seem to have a trick of going ashore like this. Apparently, one goes ashore for some reason, and all tho rest follow like sheep.