A Giant Squid and Pilot Whale calf have washed ashore at Scarborough and Table View beaches this week. The City of Cape Town’s Coastal Management Branch assisted with the removal of these carcasses.

The Giant Squid washed ashore at Scarborough beach on Tuesday, 16 August 2022.

‘Scientists from the Iziko Museum were alerted and took measurements for records and samples for genetic testing. Although they are deep water animals, this is not an unusual event as we do get one or two washing ashore in this area every year,’ said the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews.

Earlier this morning, Thursday 18 August 2022, the City was also informed that a dead Pilot Whale calf washed ashore at Table View beach.

The City’s Coastal Management Branch have alerted the National Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, and sent out a team to collect the carcass and transported it to the Paarden Island facility for National Government to undertake an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

‘Pilot Whales are deep sea animals and we also get them often along our shore. It is not unusual for these animals to get stranded and we will keep on monitoring our coastline in the coming days,’ said Alderman Andrews.

Source: City Of Cape Town