Whale carcass found floating off Llandudno Beach

19 December 2016 - 19:37 By TMG Digital
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The carcass of a nine meter Humpback whale was found floating approximately 1‚6 km off Llandudno Beach on Monday morning‚ the City of Cape Town said.

"The cause of death is unknown but it is likely to be from a ship strike‚" the City said.

Motorists visiting the city may get a strange sight as the whale carcass - weighing 15 tonnes - is being transported by truck to a landfill site.

The city said that to avoid the likelihood of the whale carcass washing ashore during the peak holiday season at a potentially difficult removal area‚ its officials‚ in consultation with the Western Cape Government’s Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning‚ opted to have the carcass towed to Hout Bay Harbour with the help of the National Sea Rescue Institute‚ where it was loaded onto a flatbed truck.

"In accordance with the City’s Standard Whale Protocol‚ and once the (environmental department) has completed their sampling‚ the carcass will be driven to Vissershok landfill site and disposed of.

"Motorists and members of the public are urged to give the agencies the space that is required for them to transport the carcass of the humpback whale from Hout Bay Harbour to the landfill site in Vissershok."

The whale carcass will be transported from Hout Bay Harbour via Constantia Nek to Vissershok.

The City apologised "in advance for any inconvenience that motorists may experience".

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