16 Mar 2016

Humpback whale's tail of woe

10:48 am on 16 March 2016

Conservation staff are bewildered by how a whale seen off Kaikoura has lost most of its tail.

A humpback whale missing tail flukes has been spotted off Kaikoura.

The humpback whale which has lost its flukes. Photo: Viraj Gamage of Whale Watch Kaikoura.

Department of Conservation Kaikoura ranger Mike Morrissey said the humpback whale had been seen off Kaikoura and while its tail flukes were missing, it appeared relaxed and was moving well.

Mr Morrissey said it was not clear how it might have happened but the flukes could have been severed from the tail as a result of the whale getting tangled in rope.

"There are cases well documented that were the result of entanglement; where ropes have been wrapped around the tail stock or the flukes and over time decay has set in and it's rotted off, as the nylon rope won't rot away," he said.

"It's unfortunate but some of these whales survive and they do quite well."

Humpback whales could function reasonably well without their flukes, as they had large side fins to help them swim.

"They do a lot of their swimming with those, and they use their tail as well, but it's not dependent on its tail."

The wounds where the flukes were severed from its tail had healed, indicating it had lost them some time ago, he said.

A photo of a humpback whale tail taken during an annual survey in the Cook Strait.

A humpback whale's tail as it should be. Photo: DoC Cook Strait Whale Survey

Mr Morrissey believed the 7m whale was about two to three years old.

"What was left of the whale's tail was tapered like an arrow tip. It's bewildering as to how it came to lose both its tail flukes. Fortunately, the whale wasn't showing any signs of distress. It was swimming well and breaching, diving and rolling as humpback whales typically do," he said.

Mr Morrissey checked the whale earlier this week after a reported sighting of it, and it was seen off Kaikoura again yesterday.

The whale was expected to move north from Kaikoura as humpback whales had started their annual migration to their South Pacific breeding grounds. They travelled through New Zealand waters as they migrated between summer Antarctic feeding grounds and winter South Pacific breeding grounds.

Mr Morrissey said whatever caused the whale to lose its tail flukes could have occurred anywhere in its travels.

Anyone who spotted the whale was asked to report it to DOC on 0800 362 468.

Boaties were asked to take particular care not to disturb the whale, and to keep their distance from it to protect its welfare.

Boats must keep at least 50m away from marine mammals.

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