A PYGMY sperm whale stranded itself at Mahia Beach yesterday and was rescued by holiday-makers who were able to push it out to sea.

The two-to-three metre whale re-stranded itself three times before people on the beach were finally able to manoeuvre it out of the shallow areas and into deeper water.

Department of Conservation ranger Malcolm Smith arrived at the scene just as the whale was re-floated.

“Luckily there were lots of people at the campground and on the beach who were able to help out. I checked the beach this morning and could not see it. Hopefully it is still out at sea.”

Popular spot for whalesMahia and Hawke’s Bay is a popular spot for pygmy sperm whales. Females are often found with their young, which indicates it could be a nursery. Between March and August there tend to be a few strandings.

“There are a whole lot of theories as to why they strand but we are not exactly sure,” Mr Smith says. “It is quite shallow offshore so it sort of acts as a whale trap. They get in there and find it hard to retreat to deep water.”

What to do if you find a stranded whaleIf people find a stranded whale they should call DoC’s emergency hotline on 0800 362 468.

“If it has recently stranded itself, then have a go at pushing it out, manoeuvring it through the shallow water,” Mr Smith says. “If it is lying on its side, its equilibrium will be upset. Also, take care not to damage the fins and be careful with the tail, which can be powerful.”

The whales often re-strand themselves so need to be watched. If there are large waves the whales are more likely to hurt themselves.

Moko rescued a pygmy onceIn 2008, bottlenose dolphin Moko, which made Mahia and the East Coast home, rescued a female pygmy sperm whale and her calf from around the same spot on Mahia Beach. As rescuers, including Mr Smith, tried in vain to get the whales back to sea, Moko led them around a sandbar and through a channel to the safety of deep water.

File photo of a whale.