A leading expert announced Friday that head injuries are suspected to have caused the death of the world’s rarest whale, whose first ever complete specimen was recently examined.
Following a thorough examination at a research facility near Dunedin, the scientific team, led by Te Rūnanga Ōtākou, concluded the dissection of a spade-toothed whale last week. This was announced in a statement released by the New Zealand Department of Conservation.
The remarkably preserved 5-meter (16-foot) male whale, discovered on a South Island beach in July, marked the first complete specimen ever recorded. Prior to this, only seven sightings of this whale species had ever been documented, none of which were of a living animal.
Anton van Helden, a New Zealand conservation agency beaked whale expert, attributed the whale’s death to head trauma, citing a fractured jaw and bruising around the head and neck.
“While we cannot definitively say, we suspect trauma was the cause, although the exact nature remains unknown,” van Helden stated.
The research team also noted the whale’s unique digestive system, previously unstudied in this species. They discovered nine stomach chambers containing squid remains and parasitic worms.
The analysis revealed another intriguing finding: tiny vestigial teeth in the upper jaw.
“These minute teeth embedded in the gums offer valuable insight into the whale’s evolutionary history. It’s an extraordinary discovery, revealing previously unknown aspects of this species,” van Helden remarked, adding, “This has been an unforgettable week, a truly remarkable experience, and marks the beginning of a deeper understanding of this magnificent creature.”
The collaborative nature of the dissection was also noteworthy, with scientists and curators working alongside local Māori people to incorporate traditional Indigenous knowledge and customs.
The iwi (tribe) will retain the whale’s jawbone and teeth, while the skeleton will eventually be displayed in a museum. 3D printing will be used to create replicas of the parts kept by the iwi.
Māori consider whales as taonga – precious treasures – and treated this specimen with the utmost respect, akin to an ancestor.
New Zealand has experienced a significant number of whale strandings, with over 5,000 incidents recorded since 1840, according to the Department of Conservation.
The initial discovery of spade-toothed whale bones dates back to 1872 on Pitt Island, New Zealand. Subsequent discoveries occurred on an offshore island in the 1950s and on Robinson Crusoe Island, Chile in 1986.