I was out getting coffee on a lazy Sunday with my partner. We have a routine where we’ll visit our locally-owned coffee shops each weekend for breakfast, driving by the beach to check for dolphins by the shore on our way there.
We picked up breakfast that morning and headed back to our apartment, when I received a text from one of my friends. After reading the notification on my phone, I quickly informed my partner of the news. “Kogia stranding!” These were two words I never thought I would say after volunteering for our local stranding network. The genus Kogia is often referred to when responding to either the Pygmy or Dwarf Sperm Whale species, since the two can be difficult to tell apart in the field. We didn’t know which species would be on the beach, but either one would be an amazing learning opportunity.
To volunteer, there are typically only 3-4 spots available to sign up for. That means when spots are filled, you are out of luck. Thankfully, I was able to sign up in time before all of the spots filled.
For dead cetacean responses, volunteers get to assist with necropsies. It is one thing to see a Kogia, and another to see the internal anatomy of one! Especially getting to experience an encounter like this with one of my friends, who is also interested in the cetacean species who strand here.
After rushing home to change into appropriate clothing for necropsies and grabbing my rubber boots, I drove to the stranding headquarters. Me, the other volunteers, and the stranding biologist all carpooled to the stranding location for the Kogia. When we got there, half of the animal was embedded in the sand. We all took a moment to observe the animal.
Seeing such a rare, deep-diving species is truly a privilege and a reminder of the variety of life that exists far offshore. Once we all got a look at the specimen, we worked together to push the body out of the sand. This revealed the dorsal fin, which gave away that this was a Pygmy Sperm Whale, Kogia breviceps. We were also able to observe the sharp teeth, which similar to sperm whales, only erupt on the lower jaw and fit into sockets in the upper jaw.
One of the most interesting observations me and my friend had was the coloration on the undersides of the pectoral fins and flukes. They shared the same coloration as the underbelly, a light pink hue in this individual. Since we are both illustrators, this detail was crucial to our understanding of the external morphology of this species. We are not allowed to take photos as volunteers, since all activities are under permit, so my memory from that day is my only reference from such a special encounter.

Once the necropsy began, all of the volunteers stood by to assist whenever we were needed. Stomach contents are always my favorite, and it was fascinating to see some of the cephalopods in the first stomach chamber.
Finally, we got to observe, what was presumed to be, the ink sac. Both Kogia species have an ink sac which they use to expel dark, brownish-red liquid to evade predators.
This was a day we would all never forget, and a reminder of some of the lesser-known cetacean species that reside in pelagic waters.
-Lauryn
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