Sombre scene as sperm whale dies after stranding in Struisbaai

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A sombre scene played out in Struisbaai when a rare sperm whale stranded itself in the surf zone near Langezandt Fisherman’s Village.

The event drew the attention of local marine authorities and residents as the distressed animal struggled in the shallow water.

The adult whale was first spotted thrashing its tail in an apparent effort to free itself from the surf.

‘Nothing anyone can do to assist’

The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Station 30 in Agulhas monitored the situation closely, but ultimately confirmed there was little they or other authorities could do to intervene safely at that stage.

“We are in contact with the DFFE Whale Disentanglement Unit and at this point, there is nothing we or anyone else can do to assist,” the station reported.

By the following morning, the whale was confirmed dead, its body discovered motionless on the beach.

Stephen Griffiths of the Southern Tip Extreme Dive Centre confirmed that plans were underway for the whale’s removal.

“The plan is to remove the whale from where it is, take it further down the plaat [beach] and bury it out of general public view,” he said.

In a respectful nod to the animal’s rarity and ecological significance, Griffiths noted that the whale’s remains would not be lost to time.

“Four or five years down the line, the skeleton will be exhumed, salvaged, and displayed at the new Agulhas lighthouse complex.”

‘Very rare’

Marine conservation photographer Jean Tresfon, who documented the incident, noted the exceptional nature of the stranding.

“Sperm whale strandings in South Africa are very rare, which is unsurprising given that they are deep-water whales seldom seen close to shore,” he explained.

The last recorded sperm whale stranding in South Africa occurred in August 2018 at Swartvlei Beach near Sedgefield, when a dead 16.37-metre whale washed ashore.

The cause of this recent stranding remains unknown.

As authorities proceed with the whale’s burial and long-term preservation plans, conservationists continue to reflect on the delicate balance between marine life and coastal human environments.