Stranded Sperm Whale Skeleton Goes to New Zealand Museum

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, November 19, 2003 (ENS) - The skeleton of the largest of 12 sperm whales stranded on the beaches of West Auckland on Friday night is to be donated to the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington, Conservation Minister Chris Carter has announced.

"Weighing around 55 tons, the bull whale that is to be donated is one of the largest ever to have stranded on New Zealand's coastline," Carter said. The whale was at least 10 meters (33 feet) long.

The whales, mostly females with a young calf, were stranded over a five kilometer (three-mile) stretch of beach at the mouth of Manukau Harbour on New Zealand's northeast coast. A crowd of some 1,500 people came down to see them on Sunday.

Department of Conservation officer Karl McLeod said it was "a significant stranding event" for sperm whales, the largest for 20 to 30 years.

Professor Scott Baker of Auckland University, who took DNA samples from the stranded whales for genetic analysis, said that it is likely that one whale, a herd leader, got into trouble and the rest followed.

"Sperm whales are deepwater animals, rarely seen close to the coast, but once a family member gets distressed they seem to follow the herd leader," he said.

Sperm whales can follow a pod leader to their deaths. (Photo courtesy NOAA)

Carter said that a jawbone of a second whale would also be donated Te Papa.

"My thanks to the local Tainui iwi [Maori tribe] of Te Kawerau a Maki for agreeing to these donations. New Zealanders everywhere will now have an opportunity to grasp the scale of the extraordinary life that exists in our ocean," said Carter.

Te Warena Taua, a tribal elder from Te Kawerau a Maki, said the stranded whales, in particular the jawbones, were of considerable spiritual and cultural significance to his people.

"While it is always sad to see a herd beached like this, these types of stranding's have always been seen by our old people as messages. It is our link to Tangaroa [god of the ocean]. And from a Maori perspective, It is also seen as a gift and support from Tangaroa," Taua said.

"It is appropriate that the largest of these whales go to Te Papa as a gift from the iwi of Te Kawerau a Maki to the nation to be seen and respected by all."

Anton Van Helden, collection manager of marine mammals at Te Papa, said the museum was very excited about the arrival of the whale.

"This generous gift from the iwi, Te Kawerau a Maki, will allow Te Papa to tell the many different stories associated with the animal - from the significance to both Maori and Pakeha, to the habits and biology of these incredible creatures. Te Papa has one of the finest collections of marine mammals in the world that until now did not contain a bull Sperm whale."

As part of the acquisition process, Te Papa and Te Kawerau a Maki will work together to develop a joint management agreement for the ongoing care of the sperm whale.

The sperm whale skeleton will be the centerpiece of an upcoming exhibition at Te Papa.