[imagesource: Overstrand Municipality]

Scores of local residents in Hermanus began harvesting the meat from a whale carcass as soon as the large animal washed up on the rocks.

But the scientists are warning that they shouldn’t eat the blubber as there is no confirmation about how the whale died and therefore, its flesh may be contaminated by something, making it dangerous to consume.

The Overstrand municipality sent out its plea to stay away as adults and children flocked to the carcass of the Bryde’s whale, per Getaway.

They eat WHALE in Hermanus pic.twitter.com/w8mo0EOUNK

— (@LthandoMayekiso) May 17, 2023

The whale carcass was spotted floating in the water close to Hermanus Beach Club on May 17 before it washed up on the rocks near Schulphoek in the small fishing town.

IOL notes how pictures and videos did the rounds on social media of some residents cutting up the mammal:

People from the Western Cape have been warned to stop eating washed-up dead whales that appeared on the rocks close to Schulphoek near Hermanus Beach Club, due to the dangerously “high levels of toxins”. pic.twitter.com/sta4PXSSvL

— Sisonke Mlamla (@SISONKE_MD) May 17, 2023

Overstrand deputy mayor, Councillor Lindile Ntsabo, also said that the meat and blubber have decayed and pose a risk of food poisoning to anyone who tries to snack on it.

Authorities have cautioned people especially residents in the greater Hermanus against the consumption of a dead whale washed ashore in the area. https://t.co/dEmh8Neuzy pic.twitter.com/1NThE4MoS8

— Sisonke Mlamla (@SISONKE_MD) May 18, 2023

Overstrand municipal manager Dean O’Neill said that the Environmental Management Services and Law Enforcement attended the scene, but there was very little to be done to stop the people:

“As such, people were warned about the potential hazards of consuming the meat and the physical dangers of working with such a large animal that is constantly moving in the surf, and on slippery rocks.

“Currently there is very little of the carcass left and we will do another inspection later today, but we expect that only the bones and some of the unusable organs will be left.

“Both the Provincial Hospital and the Hermanus Day Clinic in Zwelihle were contacted about the situation and they will be monitoring any increase in potential associated cases,” he said.

Because of this frenzied harvesting, there is very little material left for the scientists from the Overberg Stranding Network to sample and figure out the cause of death.

In fact, the possession of whale meat in South Africa is illegal, and because the sea creature is high up on the food chain, they are susceptible to contaminants such as pesticides and PCBS (polychlorinated biphenyl), as well as heavy metals like methylmercury, which are majorly risky if consumed by people, according to AfriOceans founder Lesley Rochat.

Eish, but what’s a hungry person to do when free food washes up for the taking?

[source:getaway&iol]