Ballito whale: more pics

KwaDukuza officials were on Tuesday working out the best way to move the dead humpback whale from Boulders Beach, Ballito.

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Four days after first washing up on Ballito’s Boulders Beach, the 15 ton humpback whale was still stranded on the rocks on Tuesday morning. Municipal officials were on the beach and access to the area was tight as marine officials assisted the municipality on how best to remove the huge mammal.

Mike Anderson-Reade of the KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board said it was pretty much impossible to take the whale out to sea and municipal workers were on Tuesday working with Bell earthmoving equipment, flattening out a path along the beach. A Coastal Rescue Services truck was on hand to tow the whale up the shore.

Earlier Anderson-Reade said he suspected the Humpback whale would have to be cut up on the beach before being removed.

Hundreds of locals crowded the promenade to witness the spectacle and many were debating what the best technique would be to remove the whale. Recurring comments were, “That’s a whole lot of meat”, and, “Whale to go”, but on the whole there was a huge amount of symathy for the dead whale. “It must have been hit by a ship,” said one local.

Sean Jackson said he’s been at the scene for the past four days. Chrissie Jackson said they would wait on into the afternoon to see how events unfolded.

Those downwind from the carcass have had a rough time in the past few days as the rapidly decomposing mammal has been emitting a putrid stench. – Ridge Correspondent