A humpback whale carcass recently caused a stir in Cape Town when it was transported through the streets on Sunday, 17 November. The massive creature had washed ashore at Slangkop Lighthouse in Kommetjie and was carefully removed by officials.
Spencer Oldham, Station Commander for the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Hout Bay, confirmed that the whale was discovered offshore on Saturday, 16 November. The NSRI crew was activated to assist with the removal, working in collaboration with the City of Cape Town’s Marine Animal Stranding Network and the Department of Environment.
The NSRI’s rescue vessels, Albie Matthews and Nadine Gordimer, towed the carcass to Hout Bay Harbour, where it was loaded onto a truck for transport. On Sunday morning, the City of Cape Town’s Solid Waste Management team, with assistance from law enforcement, the SA Police Service, and Cape Town Traffic, removed the whale from the harbor.
Social media users were captivated by the size of the carcass, which was 14.8 meters long and weighed approximately 35,000 kg. “I’ve seen it in pictures before, but seeing it in person was unbelievable. It’s enormous!” said Lorraine Gumbo, a resident who witnessed the transport in Constantia.
Another resident, Siyabonga Bukani from Philippi, shared his amazement: “I saw the truck while heading to church. It was the size of three elephants. When I saw it in videos, I thought it was smaller, but it’s much bigger in real life.”
This was not the first incident of humpback whales washing ashore in the region. Two other whales were found dead on 15 October and 8 November 2024.
The sight of the whale left many locals in awe, marking a rare and memorable event in Cape Town’s history.
