Young pygmy blue whale freed in New Zealand

A young pygmy blue whale has been freed after lodging itself underneath a wharf in New Zealand. Conservation authorities worked with the owners of a wharf at Schoolhouse Bay, on Kawau Island, and local Maori to help guide the whale to safety at sunset on Monday. Contrary to its name, the pygmy blue whale is the largest whale found in NZ waters, with the specimen found in trouble estimated at 14 to 15 metres in length. The rescue effort involved the removal of several piles on the wharf, and several boats positioned strategically around the bay to enable the whale's release. The whale was then guided by a vessel under a barge and through the bay away from other structures back into deeper waters. Mook Hohneck, spokesman of the local tribe Ngati Manuhiri, said the pygmy blue whale - known as a "tohora" in Maori - were considered a "taonga" (treasured species). "In these emergency situations it is important we act both quickly, and in accordance with tikanga to ensure its safe release," he said. Department of Conservation (DOC) spokeswoman Kat Lane said the community rallied to save the whale in a highly unusual situation. "This was a huge collaborative effort, and we couldn't have done it without the help of the many people on the ground," she said. "From Ngati Manuhiri (the local Maori tribe), Stanaway Marine and STF contractors, and local residents, everyone played their part in this complex operation." DOC reported the whale last seen swimming away, and are asking Kiwis to report any sightings to monitor its wellbeing. In 2023, a pygmy blue whale of a similar size which washed ashore at nearby Red Beach, was estimated to weigh 20 tonnes.