Project Jonah marine mammal medics and Department of Conservation staff respond to a Beaked whale stranded in St Heliers.
Photo: Supplied / Project Jonah
The Department of Conservation (DOC) has floated a whale back out to sea after it stranded on Auckland’s St Heliers Beach.
The Shepherd’s beaked whale was spotted at Ladies Bay this morning.
DOC operations manager Bec Rush said the whale had a health check and was then refloated as the tide was rising about 3.30pm
“However, it is possible the whale will re-strand overnight, and we will be monitoring for if this happens.”
Shepherd’s beaked whale strandings are semi-regular in New Zealand, said Rush, and they are occasionally seen live at sea, with reports from offshore Taranaki, Gisborne, Kaikoura, Otago, and Fiordland.
Project Jonah spokesperson Louisa Hawkes said Shepherd’s beaked whales lived in the deep sea, and only came up to shore if something was wrong.
Stranded, injured or dead whales should be reported to the DOC emergency hotline 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468).
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