The juvenile pygmy blue whale off Kawau Island, near Auckland. Picture: NZ Department of Conservation
A juvenile pygmy blue whale has been freed after it was trapped underneath a wharf near Auckland, New Zealand, on Monday.
A NZ Department of Conservation (DOC) statement said the 14-15m long whale wedged itself underneath a private wharf on Kawau Island, located about 45km north of Auckland.
The whale was freed at about 6 pm (NZ time) on Monday after several piles had to be removed from Schoolhouse Bay Wharf.
DOC Operations Manager Kat Lane expressed her gratitude for the immense effort from all involved.
The animal remained calm during the ordeal, the DOC statement said.
“This was a huge collaborative effort, and we couldn’t have done it without the help of the many people on the ground,” Ms Lane said.
“… everyone played their part in this complex operation.”
During the final phase of the operation, DOC staff onboard a Maori tribal vessel helped guide the whale, which swam under the barge and made a wide loop around the bay.
The DOC said the whale had some difficulty navigating other structures in the area.
Contractors from Stanaway Marine and STF used their vessels to position themselves between the whale and the shore.
The whale was monitored and showed some slight distress as a barge was brought in but soon returned to normal breathing and stayed calm.
The whale was last seen swimming into deeper water with no immediate reports of sightings overnight.
DOC urged the public to report any whale sightings, offshore and along local beaches. Ngati Manuhiri (iwi or tribe) and DOC staff checked coves around the island while Kawau Cruises kept a lookout during trips.
DOC said they are grateful for the support of wharf owners Bob Nelson and Ross Tebbs and will repair the wharf.
Adult pygmy blue whales can reach up to 22 metres in length and weigh up to 90 tonnes.
