An unusual event that happened in New Zealand in the recent past is that the country’s conservation authority has found what is probably the world’s most elusive whale, according to The Guardian.
A ‘whale’ around 16 feet long was washed ashore near Dunedin in the South Island of New Zealand on 4 July. Based on a study made by the Department of Conservation, or DOC, only six individuals of this species have been recorded by researchers as far back as the 1800s.
Through identification carried out by effectively qualified and experienced personnel from the National Museum Te Papa, it was stated that the washed-up whale was a male spade-toothed whale. DOC posted the video of the whale on its official Instagram account where it was written that they are saddened by the death of the whale but the occurrence is of great research value to know about this shy species.
Gabe Davies, DOC Coastal Otago operations manager said, “The species is among the least known large mammalian species in transitional periods of today’s World…so, the finding is of considerable scientific and conservation value. ”
Information that is available as relayed by a DOC press release is the fact that the species is one of the rarest of the rare thus the fact that very little is known about the habits and characteristics of the species. From DOC’s perspective, special attention was paid to the necessity of maintaining the object’s sanctity and involving Māori wisdom when researching this peculiar cetacean.
Specimens for genetic identification have been obtained, and it might take weeks or even months to obtain a conclusive result on the species involved in the cross-breeding process through a DNA analysis. While the body is thrown into cold storage at DOC until further action is taken, it lies well in accordance with DOC procedures.
