A female Baird’s beaked whale stranded in shallow waters in Te Kouma, south of Coromandel town, has died overnight.
The Department of Conservation told 1News staff were working with iwi on a burial for the animal.
"Now the team has had a chance to more closely inspect the whale, we can confirm it’s a female Baird’s beaked whale, not a male southern beaked whale as previously stated," DOC said.
READ MORE: 9-metre whale stranded south of Coromandel town
One member of the public said there was “a lot of blood coming out". (Source: Supplied)
A member of the public on Sunday said the nine-metre whale had an open wound on its head, while another can be heard in a video saying there was “lots of blood coming out”.
DOC staff were on Sunday at the scene caring for the animal after being told about whale about 6.30am.
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