Facebook: FRIENDS OF SCHOENMAKERSKOP
Residents of Nelson Mandela Bay are hacking away at the carcass of a Humpback whale that washed up at The Willows Gate 5 near Schoenmakerskop on Monday.
In a video doing the rounds on social media, a man with an axe is seen chopping at the whale's tale.
The news of people flocking to the scene to collect pieces of the whale has caused residents to question whether the carcass will be removed by the municipality.
A Marine Biologist and head of the stranding network team at Bayworld, Dr Greg Hofmeyr said the whale is one of six that have already beached this season.
According to Hofmeyr one or two whales beach at a time, but there has already been six this season.
He said at this stage it was too early to know whether this was unusual.
Three carcasses were found between Port Alfred and East London, one at Thyspunt near Oyster Bay and one in Lusikisiki.
"I can confirm that it is a humpback whale that has been there for some time.
"Samples that will be used for general research have already been taken.
"Bayworld has the largest marine mammal research collection in the southern hemisphere," he said.
