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17 Sep 2019

Dead whale that washed up on KZN beach harvested for ‘meat, blubber and muthi’

Thobeka Ngema (Daily News) Picture: Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife

An adult humpback whale beached on Shelly Beach on the south coast at the weekend.

According to a Facebook post by the KZN Marine Stranding Network, the whale was 13 metres long.

However, the animal was already dead when it washed onto shore but skin and blubber samples were taken, together with a number of barnacles.

“The animal is (was) currently being harvested for various purposes, including meat, cooking oil, muthi and bait,” the KZN Marine Stranding Network said.

The animal was situated on the rocks it could not be towed back out to sea.

In addition, the removal of the whale was the responsibility of the Ray Nkonyeni Municipality.

According to the South African Association for Marine Biological Research (Saambr) animals that strand can be dead or alive. Dead animals also needed to be reported because whole animals or samples from the animal are needed for research.

For a whale stranding larger than six metres contact uShaka Sea World on 031 328 8222 (office hours) or 031 328 8060 (after hours).