The death of nine orcas stranded on a beach near Tuatapere is a tragedy but also gives a ''vastly important'' chance to gather knowledge which would be valuable globally, Orca Research Trust founder Dr Ingrid Visser says.
The Department of Conservation (Doc) was told early yesterday a pod of orcas, or killer whales, was stranded at Blue Cliffs Beach. Soon afterwards, a Doc ranger discovered the eight adult orcas and one juvenile were dead, Doc spokesman Reuben Williams said. The national population of orcas was about 200.
''There was nothing obvious as a reason [for the stranding] and it's uncommon to have such a large group stranding,'' he said. They were listed as a ''nationally critical'' population and Doc had recovered some DNA samples and the carcass of one orca for necropsy (autopsy on an animal).
Local iwi, Ngai Tahu, blessed the site yesterday. No decision had been made by Doc yet on the recovery or burial of the remaining orcas, Mr Williams said.
Dr Visser, who travelled to Tuatapere yesterday from her base near Whangarei, said the incident was the third-largest stranding of orcas in New Zealand. The largest was 17 animals in 1955, at Paraparaumu.
''This loss is devastating and in biological terms that's a lot of animals to lose from a population of fewer than 200,'' she said.
''On the personal side of things, I've worked with these animals, so it's a shocking thing to have happen.''
She specialises in orcas and her research is funded through the trust, which is registered as a charity.
''Depending on the wishes of the iwi and Doc, I'm hoping that we can gather information from these animals [at Tuatapere].''
''On a global scale, the information we could gain from them could be significant, so this opportunity is beyond valuable - it's indescribable how valuable this chance is,'' Dr Visser said.
If permission was granted, she would inspect the carcasses and carry out a wide range of tests. That could include an examination of the stomach contents, to see what the orcas had been eating, a look at the toxicity level of the blubber, and tests on whether the group was one family and what had been passed from mother to calf, giving ''vastly important'' information on genetics.
Information might also be gleaned on the reason for the stranding.
