News of a washed-up humpback whale has been making waves on social media.
Humpback whale washes up on Durban beach
A video posted by the Community News Network TV on Facebook depicts the whale in a state of decomposition. The animal reportedly washed up on Glenashley Beach, north of Durban.
In the video, it was stated that eThekwini Municipality would be on their way soon to safely remove the whale from the beach. The cause of the whale’s death is currently unknown.
“The circumstances of how the whale actually landed up over here is unclear at this stage,”
Community News Network TV said.
The animal had been dead for about a week and will soon be removed
ECR News reports that it was a juvenile humpback whale that washed up on the evening of Tuesday, 16 August. They revealed that it seemed as though the whale had been dead for approximately a week.
The animal was dismembered by a chainsaw and a TLB was used to remove parts of the whale.
This is not the first incident with a whale carcass in SA this year
This is not the first incident this year, in January a whale carcass washed up on one of Cape Town’s most popular swimming spots. Locals were told to avoid the area, while officials attempted to clear the area.
Not only would the presence of a whale carcass have been wholly unpleasant for anyone planning to hit the sands at Clifton – but the stench will also attract sharks to the water, and bathers will not be allowed to take a dip in the ocean until further notice.
The dead humpback whale was actually first spotted the night before, with its carcass floating near Sea Point. The currents then washed the creature ashore, and it’s believed the aquatic giant passed away due to natural causes.
Giant squid washes ashore in Cape Town
Meanwhile, it was reported that a giant squid washed ashore at Scarborough beach in Cape Town. It was found on Wednesday morning, 16 August.
It is unclear what caused the deep sea animal’s death. Shark Spotters claimed the giant squid’s beak had already been removed by the time its team members arrived at the scene. The beak is used to determine the animal’s age.
It is the second time a giant squid has washed ashore in Cape Town this year. The last beaching occurred at Kommetjie on 30 April. Read the full story here.