Remains of World’s Rarest Whale Wash Ashore in New Zealand

The remains of a spade-toothed whale, considered the “world’s rarest whale,” washed ashore in Otago, New Zealand, on Thursday, July 4, according to the New Zealand Department of Conservation ( DOC ). The whale appeared to be a male spade-toothed whale, a species the department said is “so rare [that] next to nothing is known about them.” These images provided by the DOC show a digger being used to lift the whale’s remains. Only six samples of the species have ever been documented, the DOC said. The whale is currently in cold storage until the decision is made on what to do with the remains. Credit: Department of Conservation, New Zealand via Storyful