Rare whale found on Otago beach

A five-metre-long whale so rare that only six specimens have ever been seen by scientists has washed ashore on an Otago beach. What's believed to be the remains of a spade-toothed whale, one of the world's least known mammals, was discovered near Taieri Mouth on 4 July. It could take weeks to confirm the creature's DNA, which the Department of Conservation says will be of "huge" international interest. DOC's Coastal Otago operations manager Gabe Davies spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.