South Africa to Burn Beached Whale Carcass
Date: 26-Jul-06
Country: SOUTH AFRICA
The dead 34-tonne southern right whale washed up onto the quiet Kommetjie beach 40 kilometres (25 miles) south of Cape Town on Friday, but it was still unclear how it had died.
"After discussions ... it's now been decided to burn the carcass," Table Mountain National Park spokeswoman Janine Willemans said in a statement.
"This operation will start tomorrow (Wednesday), and the area will be closed off to the public for the duration," she said, warning residents the burning fat and oil of the whale would create massive black smoke.
The whale has drawn huge crowds of curious onlookers over the past four days, with young and old clambering over blubber-strewn rocks to get a closer look at the giant mammal.
Children played on the carcass on Tuesday as officials watched, while dozens of other onlookers covered their noises to avoid the overpowering stench.
