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Story: Whales

Gray’s beaked whale (1st of 2)

Gray’s beaked whale

This 4-metre-long female Gray’s beaked whale was stranded on Waiheke Island in 2003. Department of Conservation staff thought it might have died after eating a plastic bag that it had mistaken for a squid. Gray’s beaked whales are the most common New Zealand whale to become stranded, occasionally in groups.

About this item

New Zealand Herald
Reference: 21 January 2003
Photograph by Kenny Rodger

Permission of the New Zealand Herald must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

How to cite this page:

Gerard Hutching. 'Whales', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 24-Sep-11
URL: http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/whales/7/4/1