Stranding of Strap-toothed Beaked Whales in Victoria - January 2002.

A 5.5m long female Strap-toothed Beaked Whale was beached alive on 29th January opposite the entrance to the Great Ocean Road at Airey's Inlet. A second animal stranded alive (reportedly) on the 27th a few hundred kilometres east, off the Gippsland coast.

There have been over 150 strandings of this species in the southern hemisphere many of which have occurred in Australia. Strandings seem to coincide with movement of the animals either along or into the coast as they mainly occur between January and April.

Male Strap-tooths are unique among cetaceans in having a pair of teeth that grow out of the lower jaw and literally overlap above the upper jaw, all but strapping it closed (hence the name!). This does not seem to affect feeding as old individuals of this species have been found stranded after apparently feeding healthily for years.

Preliminary results from a post mortem on the east Gippsland animal indicated possible cancer in the stomach which was empty and the animal may not have fed for a month or so. The blubber was very thin (compared to the animal found at Airey's inlet) and it was considered to be riddled with parasites. No detailed post mortem was carried out on the animal depicted below.

A series of biometrics were taken which can be viewed here.

The whale stranded on a rising tide near the entrance to the Great Ocean Road, between Aireys Inlet and Lorne.

The wound in this photo was caused by friction with the sand the night before when the animal was rolling in the surf. The throat grooves are clearly visible.

Although considered indicative of this species, the dark patches were much paler while the animal was alive, contrasting against a sandy brown rather than the blue-grey colour shown in this photo.

The dorsal fin was triangular in shape and slightly falcate. There was a small crescent-shaped hole near the tip which is just visible in this image. The tail fluke (right) had also been pierced through.

The whale showed no signs of teeth emerging from the lower jaw. This is consistent with expectations. Females have seldom been recorded with more than the vestiges of teeth.

A profile of the tail, again revealing friction damage to the tissue from rolling in the surf the night before.

An image showing the single crescent-shaped blow hole.

The area that looks like a shadow just above the flippers are pockets into which the flippers are tucked, presumably to improve streamlining through the water.

A series of biometrics were taken which can be viewed here

The whale was covered in a number of scars mainly around the rear half of the body and the flanks.

These were curiously rectangular in shape which may be a result of the healing process. A common cause of such scars are Cookie-cutter Sharks that specialise in parasitising animals such as whales.

Museum of Victoria staff tethering the whale to a bulldozer to remove it from the beach.