Rare fin whale stranding investigated along Greater Dyer Island Conservationists respond to first recorded fin whale stranding in Gansbaai
Cape Town conservationists are investigating the rare stranding of a female fin whale along the Greater Dyer Island coastline after the massive marine mammal washed ashore near Gansbaai earlier this week.
The whale, measuring 23 metres in length, was first spotted on Wednesday near Gansbaai Harbour by Jason Stafford of Ivanhoe Sea Safaris before eventually washing ashore at Die Plaat.
Teams from Marine Dynamics and the Dyer Island Conservation Trust (DICT) responded immediately to assess the animal and begin documenting what is believed to be the first recorded fin whale stranding in the area.
The fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) is the second-largest whale species on Earth after the blue whale and can grow to as much as 27 metres in length, weighing more than 70 tonnes.
