A gray's beaked whale has washed up on a South Island beach, with its beak sawn off.
The 5m whale, which was found on a Greymouth beach, had its beak removed with a chainsaw about Saturday, the Department of Conservation says.
It is an offence to take a whalebone or any part of a marine mammal without a permit.
![The whale's beak was sawn off with a chainsaw. Photo / DOC](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/OID3NDAK36IQE2ZQ4ZXFESVUVM.jpg?auth=2c898aa710930cbc4a10523b6bfa7c15a0b753797968e6fa846f4db25ae36f5b&width=16&height=29&quality=70&smart=true)
DOC ranger Glen Newton also warned rotting whales could carry diseases that contaminated skin and clothing.