An infant whale has been found dead on a Bay of Plenty beach.
Department of Conservation operations manager for Whakatāne, David Beattie, said staff and Ngāti Awa responded to a call this morning “about a deceased marine mammal having washed up at West End, Ōhope Beach”.
The animal was found to be a neonatal pilot whale, Beattie said.
“A member of Ngāti Hokopū will be accompanying the animal to Massey University, Albany where it will undergo autopsy.