By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
What's The JamWhat's The Jam
  • Home
  • Latest News
    • UK News
    • World News
  • Super ViralHot
  • Lifestyle
    • Health and Fitness
    • Photography
    • Property
  • Humor
  • Celebrity
  • Weird
  • Videos
  • All Topics
    • Babies and Kids
    • Celebrity
    • Comedy and Humor
    • Documentary and Reportage
    • Fails
    • Health and Fitness
    • Holidays and Travel
    • Influencers and Models
    • Latest Videos
    • Life Hacks
    • Lifestyle
    • Nature and Wildlife
    • Pets and Animals
    • Photography
    • Property
    • Real Life
    • Sport
    • Strange and Bizarre
    • Super Viral
    • UK News
    • World News
Search
  • Health and Fitness
  • Holidays and Travel
  • Nature and Wildlife
  • Pets and Animals
  • Photography
  • Babies and Kids
  • Comedy and Humor
  • Fails
  • Real Life
  • Strange and Bizarre
  • Submit News
  • Customize Interests
  • Bookmarks
  • Newsletter
  • Who Are We
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Write For Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact
© 2023 What's The Jam. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: ‘Rarest whale in the world’ washes up on beach
Share
Notification Show More
Aa
What's The JamWhat's The Jam
Aa
  • News
  • World
  • Viral
  • Funny
  • Weird
  • Celebrity
  • DIY
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport
  • Videos
Search
  • Home
    • News
    • World
    • Super Viral
    • Videos
  • All Topics
    • Babies and Kids
    • Celebrity
    • Comedy and Humor
    • Documentary and Reportage
    • Fails
    • Health and Fitness
    • Holidays and Travel
    • Influencers and Models
    • Life Hacks
    • Lifestyle
    • Nature and Wildlife
    • Pets and Animals
    • Photography
    • Property
    • Real Life
    • Sport
    • Strange and Bizarre
  • Quick Links
    • Customize Interests
    • Bookmarks
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of use
    • Write For Us
    • Advertise
    • Contact
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Write For Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact
© 2023 What's The Jam. All Rights Reserved.
The world's rarest whale, a spade-toothed whale, was discovered on a New Zealand beach. This elusive species has only six recorded specimens globally, mostly in New Zealand.
Nature and Wildlife

‘Rarest whale in the world’ washes up on beach

Ria Newman
Last updated: 2024/07/16 at 2:25 PM
Ria Newman
Share
3 Min Read
The whale being moved. (Picture: Jam Press)
SHARE

A whale believed to be the rarest in the world has been discovered on a New Zealand beach.

The Department of Conservation (DOC) received a report of a five-meter-long beaked whale that had washed ashore near Taiari Mouth earlier this month.

After consulting with experts, they concluded that the mammal was likely a male spade-toothed whale – a species so elusive that no live specimens have ever been observed.

READ MORE: Horrific moment gigantic 24ft SHARK washes up on UK beach

- Advertisement -

Gabe Davies, DOC Coastal Otago Operations Manager, stated, “Spade-toothed whales are one of the least known large mammalian species of our time.

Since the 1800s, only six specimens have been recorded globally, with all but one found in New Zealand. From a scientific and conservation perspective, this discovery is monumental.”

The world's rarest whale, a spade-toothed whale, was discovered on a New Zealand beach. This elusive species has only six recorded specimens globally, mostly in New Zealand.
The whale washed up on a beach in New Zealand. (Picture: Jam Press)

The DOC is collaborating with Te Rūnanga ō Ōtākou to determine the next steps for the whale’s remains. The freshness of this specimen presents the first-ever opportunity for a spade-toothed whale to be dissected, highlighting the international significance of this conversation.

Genetic samples have been sent to the University of Auckland, which curates the New Zealand Cetacean Tissue Archive.

Processing and confirming the DNA to finalize the species identification may take several weeks or months, according to reports from NeedToKnow.

- Advertisement -

The spade-toothed whale species was initially described in 1874, based on a lower jaw and two teeth collected from Pitt Island, Rēkohu (Chatham Islands). Subsequent skeletal remains from Whakāri/White Island and Robinson Crusoe Island (Chile) further confirmed the species.

Two more recent discoveries, in the Bay of Plenty and north of Gisborne, provided the first descriptions of the species’ color patterns.

The whale has been carefully transported from the beach and is now in cold storage to preserve its remains until further decisions are made.

- Advertisement -

Classified as ‘data deficient’ in the New Zealand Threat Classification System, very little is known about the spade-toothed whale. The first intact specimen was discovered following a mother and calf stranding in the Bay of Plenty in 2010. Another stranding in Gisborne in 2017 added one more specimen to the limited collection.

READ MORE: Think you’re safe from sharks in knee-deep water? Think again

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • X

Have a story to tell? Hello@whatsthejam.com
TAGGED: animals, New Zealand, shocking, Viral

Sign Up For Daily Newsletter

Be keep up! Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.
[mc4wp_form]
By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Copy Link Print
Share
What do you think?
Love0
Sad0
Happy0
Sleepy0
Angry0
Dead0
Wink0
Previous Article F1 star Lewis Hamilton pampers his Bulldog, Roscoe, with a £167.99 mini SUV toy, complete with a personalized number plate, sparking mixed reactions from fans. Lewis Hamilton slammed for getting £168 ride on Mercedes G-Wagon…for his dog
Next Article After a near-fatal car crash, Willow Caelan shares her peaceful near-death experience, shedding light on what might happen after we die. Now, she's helping others explore their souls. ‘I had a near-death experience and saw my soul float above my body in a warm, comforting void’
Leave a comment Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Stay Connected

235.3k Followers Like
69.1k Followers Follow
11.6k Followers Pin
56.4k Followers Follow
136k Subscribers Subscribe
4.4k Followers Follow
- Advertisement -
Ad imageAd image

Latest News

Gianluigi Donnarumma visited Erling Haaland’s favorite restaurant Vero Moderno twice in a week, enjoying the same Italian dishes that inspired Haaland’s famous goal streak.
Gianluigi Donnarumma dines at team mate Erling Haaland’s lucky restaurant twice in week
Sport 8 October 2025
A rare 1965 Amphicar 770 that drives on land and sails on water is up for sale for £45,000, reaching 70mph on roads and 7mph at sea, just like a James Bond car.
James Bond-style, amphibious car that can go on roads and water selling for £45,000
World News 8 October 2025
First Lego shark from 1997 cargo spill set be snapped up at auction
UK News 8 October 2025
Ghost hunters from The Scottish Ghost Company were left shaken after a spirit allegedly touched and bruised several women during a museum investigation, leaving one with a handprint-shaped mark but undeterred in their pursuit.
Ghost hunters left with bruises after ‘attack’ from ghoul who ‘doesn’t like women’
Strange and Bizarre 8 October 2025

You Might also Like

Gianluigi Donnarumma visited Erling Haaland’s favorite restaurant Vero Moderno twice in a week, enjoying the same Italian dishes that inspired Haaland’s famous goal streak.
Sport

Gianluigi Donnarumma dines at team mate Erling Haaland’s lucky restaurant twice in week

8 October 2025
UK News

First Lego shark from 1997 cargo spill set be snapped up at auction

8 October 2025
Ghost hunters from The Scottish Ghost Company were left shaken after a spirit allegedly touched and bruised several women during a museum investigation, leaving one with a handprint-shaped mark but undeterred in their pursuit.
Strange and Bizarre

Ghost hunters left with bruises after ‘attack’ from ghoul who ‘doesn’t like women’

8 October 2025
Laura Wilson, 32, from Leicester, was horrified after hundreds of ladybirds swarmed her home, covering her walls and ceilings. She shared the ordeal on TikTok, where her video went viral with nearly a million views.
Super Viral

Woman in shock as ‘hundreds’ of ladybirds land in her home

8 October 2025
Christmas superfan Charlotte Chandler, 36, from Stockport, has already filled her home with five Christmas trees and festive lights, saying decorating early helps her arthritis and keeps her dad’s memory alive despite online trolls.
Lifestyle

‘It’s not even Halloween but I’ve already decorated for Christmas with FIVE trees – trolls think it’s weird but I don’t care’

8 October 2025
Nicole Scherzinger has faced backlash after fans claimed she arrived an hour late to her £150-a-ticket Royal Albert Hall show, performing in short segments and leaving audiences confused and disappointed.
Celebrity

Nicole Scherzinger slammed for turning up an ‘hour late’ to £150-a-ticket gig and ‘randomly leaving the stage throughout’

8 October 2025
Jade Thirlwall has revealed her favourite pub is Toby Carvery, saying she loves their unlimited roast dinners and even owns a gold card for free meals, joining stars like Danny Dyer and Mark Labbett.
Celebrity

Jade Thirlwall admits Toby Carvery is her favourite pub… and she has gold card access

8 October 2025
Tiny, an 18-year-old Chihuahua believed to be the UK’s oldest unwanted dog, is looking for a new home with his best friend Wilma, nine, through Dogs Trust Salisbury in Wiltshire.
Pets and Animals

Unloved Tiny, 18 – thought to be oldest unwanted dog in country – looking for new home

8 October 2025
//

What’s The Jam is your one stop website for the latest viral and weird news from around the world.

 
Have a story to tell? Hello@whatsthejam.com

Quick Link

  • Customize Interests
  • Bookmarks
  • Write for Us
  • Newsletter
  • About Us

Top Categories

  • UK News
  • World News
  • Latest Videos
  • Lifestyle
  • Super Viral

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

[mc4wp_form]

What's The JamWhat's The Jam
Follow US
© 2023 What's The Jam. All Rights Reserved.
Go to mobile version
adbanner
AdBlock Detected
Our site is an advertising supported site. Please whitelist to support our site.
Okay, I'll Whitelist
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?