Posted on: Sunday, April 28, 2002

Dead whale found beached on Maui

By Karen Blakeman
Advertiser Staff Writer

A dead pygmy sperm whale washed ashore yesterday on Maui.

Greg Kaufman, president of the Pacific Whale Foundation, said the whale appeared to be an adult but not elderly, judging from its teeth, and it did not have obvious wounds. It had eaten not long before its death.

It washed up shortly after 8 a.m. on Black Sand Beach near Pu'uola'i, or Red Hill, in Makena.

"It's a real mystery why so many of these deep-water animals are washing up," Kaufman said.

He said things that can cause the deaths of deep sea animals include sonar testing, illnesses, mercury poisoning and collisions with ships.

Last week, he said, a Blainsville beaked whale washed up on Kama'ole Beach Park in Kihei. Both that beach park and Black Sand Beach are on Ma'alaea Bay.

On Dec. 23, another pygmy sperm washed ashore at Ma'alaea Bay, he said. A rough-toothed dolphin also washed ashore a few months ago.

Scientists have sent the inner ears of the dolphin and the auditory structures of the first pygmy sperm whale out for analysis.

State DLNR representatives claimed the whale's body, which will be examined by a veterinarian from the National Marine Fisheries Service.