27 Dec 2016

Whale dies on Timaru beach

12:48 pm on 27 December 2016

A stranded grey-beaked whale has died on a Timaru beach despite numerous attempts to refloat it.

A whale was refloated several times at Caroline Bay in Timaru but continued to beach and died.

The whale was refloated several times but beached repeatedly. Photo: SUPPLIED / Department of Conservation

A Department of Conservation spokesperson, Dave Winterburn, said the whale was discovered about 8pm yesterday at Caroline Bay.

Members of the public tried to refloat it about five times, but it kept returning to the beach and died several hours later.

After a karakia and blessing this morning, the whale was taken by truck to a landfill, where it would be buried.

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