The other two Kogia which washed up in the Mossel Bay area in the last three weeks were breviceps.
MOSSEL BAY NEWS – A third Kogia whale has washed up in the Mossel Bay area in three weeks, causing concern.
The latest one washed up at Diaz Beach in town on Saturday, 19 June.
Stranded Marine Animal Rescue Team (S.M.A.R.T.) committee member Val Marsh said: “It’s very disturbing. Kogia live far out at sea and don’t come near the shore unless they wash up dead.”
Marsh said: “We did full sampling for Dr Greg Hofmeyr at Bayworld in Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth). We work as agents for him. We have a permit to do this.
“We received calls about the whale from a number of people including the lifeguards on duty. We got the first call at 09:30.”
Marsh said this week it was not certain yet whether it was a Kogia sima (dwarf sperm whale) or a Kogia breviceps (pygmy sperm whale).
There are only two Kogia species. The other two Kogia which washed up in the Mossel Bay area in the last three weeks were breviceps.
A brevicep washed up on Outeniqua Beach near Glentana on 30 May.
“She was pregnant. It was heartbreaking,” Marsh said. “Dr Hofmeyr and two of his assistants came from Bayworld and they did the full sampling.”
The other brevicep washed up on 13 June at Springerbaai near Dana Bay.
Marsh noted that S.M.A.R.T. also took samples from a dolphin on 18 June at Second Beach, Dana Bay.
