AUT - Cetacean Research
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Cetacean Research
EOS endorses any research on cetaceans and pinnipeds in New Zealand waters.
To date EOS research has focussed on reporting the diet of stranded 
cetaceans, particularly the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps) and long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas). Detailed, current dietary information existed for none prior to this research.
A staggering 8000-or so whales have stranded and died on New Zealand beaches since 1978, yet so little is known of the fate of any of these specimens, or the biology of the species. In fact, for the greatest majority of cetaceans stranding on New Zealand beaches there is no information available on their life history, biology or diet. Such information is fundamental if we are to ensure the welfare of these species.
One of the objectives of our research is to remedy this data deficiency, and to channel researchers into postgraduate study that will advance our knowledge of these otherwise poorly known animals. Species diet is an excellent introduction to cetacean research. We are particularly interested in whether the diets of cetaceans in New Zealand are changing because of changes in the diversity, distribution and abundance of prey. If such changes have occurred in prey diversity and abundance, have these contributed to stranding events.
The diet of the male sperm whale (above right) and 11 others from this mass-stranding event were all been reported in the thesis of Felipe Gomez-Villota. It would appear that many of these whales in this mass-stranding had not consumed enough prey to satiate them prior to their stranding.
Ongoing monitoring of whale diet and health is required, so we will continue to attend stranding events throughout New Zealand to develop our archives of samples.
Our research
What we do isn't always pleasant! In fact sometimes it can be darn nasty!
Whenever a whale strands in New Zealand we do our very best to be there. It can take us to some pretty remote locations, such as Cape Palliser (right). Our first concern is to save the animal, but often they are dead already. If alive then the Department of Conservation will coordinate any attempt(s) to save the animal(s). When this is not possible we have to make the best out of a tragic situation. We have to learn what we can about the animal from detailed analysis of its deceased body.
Sperm whales strand on occassion on our shores. Prior to our research on these animals almost nothing was known of their diet. Locating the stomachs (they have 3) on a 50-ton animal can be quite a challenge, and as you can see, and sometimes we need the assistance of some serious heavy moving and lifting equipment, in this case a digger.
The stomachs of this 50-or-so-ton animal were completely empty. It took us the best part of 5 hours to locate them and determine this. All of our clothes were discarded, and we smelled pretty horrendous for the best part of 3 days.
We have some pretty serious knives available to do our research, and the research can be difficult, dangerous and extremely unpleasant. But someone has to do it, or we will be no wiser as to the causes of stranding in these magnificent animals.
Cetacean diet
We are currently studying the diets of other species of cetacean that regularly strand on New Zealand beaches, including:
- Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus)
- Pygmy sperm whales (Kogia breviceps)
- Long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas)
- Beaked whales (Mesoplodon spp.)
- Mauis dolphin
Whenever these animals strand we try and obtain their stomach contents, in addition to a host of other tissues, in an attempt to determine their physiological and physical health, and whether this might have contributed to stranding.
We are also researching the biological and chemical effects of cetacean burial in beach sediments, and the health and safety implications of this commonplace practice.