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29 Oct 2018

Whale washes up on KZN beach

Zainul Dawood (Daily News) Picture: Berno Phillipson

A whale has beached near an uMdhloti beach on Monday morning.

Dr Jennifer Olbers, Marine Ecologist Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, said the whale was stranded onshore between uMhlanga and uMdhloti beaches. She said they were deciding what to do with the whale.

Curious onlookers have already gathered to catch a glimpse of this massive marine mammal while waves break around it. Authorities are on the scene.

In August, a sub-adult humpback whale washed up on Pipeline Beach in eManzimtoti

The South African Association for Marine Biological Research (SAAMBR) website said dolphins and whales may strand along the beaches of KwaZulu Natal for many reasons that may be natural or as a result of human activities.

A whale has beached near an uMdhloti beach on Monday morning.

Some of these reasons include disease, old age or parasitic infection, abandoned calves, or malnourished juveniles; severe oceanographic and weather conditions or they may have been bitten by predators such as sharks or orcas.

Human activities include pollution or an injury from fishing gear or boats.