HEALTH HAZARD
Hundreds of local residents swarmed to the beach after a huge whale washed ashore between Port Durnford and New Mouth on Saturday. Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife District Conservation Manager - Frans Mthembu and Field Rangers - Erik Gcashebe and Philile Ngcamu were on scene to monitor events
Dave Savides
HEALTH officials are keeping a close watch on eSikhaleni residents who hacked off huge chunks of flesh and blubber from a rotting whale carcass during the week.
While some of the meat and bones was said to be intended for muti and compost, most was destined for the pot, according to the harvesters.
Fears are that eating the meat could cause serious illness.
Weighing tons, the 20-metre long creature, possibly an adult male sperm whale, washed ashore halfway between Port Durnford and New Mouth on Saturday.
But despite the intense heat early in the week, on Wednesday hundreds of panga-wielding residents were still chopping flesh from the giant mammal's carcass.
Poverty indicator?
'Over the past 19 years I have been to many places where whales have washed ashore, but I have never seen anything like this feeding frenzy,' said Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife District conservation Manager, Frans Mthembu.
'Even though the smell of the putrid flesh chokes me from hundreds of metres away, the people stand on the body chopping meat for the stove.'
The City of uMhlathuze Health Department was notified of the concerns and was liaising with provincial authorities at the time of going to press.
Whale tour operator, Danie Bennett of St Lucia also visited the scene, gathering DNA samples for scientific study on behalf of the Oceanographic Research Institute.
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