PREVIEW

An incredibly rare specimen of one of the world’s most elusive species of whale has washed up in New Zealand.

The whale species is so rare only six have ever been found worldwide. Remarkably, the species is so rare it has never been seen alive - so next to nothing is known about its behaviour. On Thursday 4 July 2024, Department of Conservation (DOC) staff were notified a type of beaked whale around 5 m long had washed ashore near Taiari Mouth. Upon inspection, and consultation with marine-mammal experts from DOC and Te Papa, it appears the creature was a male spade-toothed whale - the world’s most elusive whale.

DOC Coastal Otago Operations Manager Gabe Davies says if confirmed, this will be a very significant scientific find. “Spade-toothed whales are one of the most poorly known large mammalian species of modern times,” he said. “Since the 1800s, only six examples have ever been documented worldwide, and all but one of these was from New Zealand. From a scientific and conservation point of view, this is huge.”

A specimen this fresh offers the first opportunity ever for a spade-toothed whale to be dissected. Genetic samples have been sent to the University of Auckland as curators of the New Zealand Cetacean Tissue Archive. It may take several weeks or months for the DNA to be processed and a final species ID to be confirmed. The whale has been carefully removed from the beach and is currently in cold storage to preserve the remains until the next steps have been decided.