'Disgusting act' after dead sperm whale washes up on beach
WARNING - GRAPHIC CONTENT: A dead sperm whale washed up on a New Zealand beach has had its jaw removed by a chainsaw.
The dead whale was first noticed by fishermen on Papamoa Beach, north of Rotorua on Thursday afternoon, the NZ Herald reports.
There was security put in place after Maori iwi representative Carlton Bidois said the last time an orca washed up, "someone attempted to cut its teeth out".
Mr Bidois said he showed up with Department of Conservation staff later in the afternoon to discuss what to do with the carcass when two men showed up in a 4WD.
"Before we could even get to it two guys cut the jaw off with chainsaws," he said.
He added that police tried to catch the pair but they got away.
Mr Bidois said he didn't have anything against people claiming the right to culturally harvest the whale but added the way the pair went about it was "disgusting".
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"It is embarrassing for me as Maori that happened to the whale. It was disrespectful to the whale and to the members of the public who were there guarding it," he said.
He added a carved whale's tooth can sell for up to $3000.
Department of Conservation spokeswoman Jessyca Bernard said the people responsible for taking the jaw could face up to two years' jail or a $250,000 fine.
Police are yet to find the pair who took off with the jaw.
