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Rare Beaked Whale Washes Up in Australia

A rare beaked whale washed up in Australia Tuesday, exciting researchers who know little about an animal that spends much of its time diving at depth far from shore.

The three-to-four meter (10-13 feet) long whale was found dead at Redhead Beach, some 150 kilometers (93 miles) north of Sydney, with experts examining it and taking specimens before sending its head to the Australian Museum in Sydney.

"It is sad but also exciting as we can learn so much more about the animal," Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia president Ronny Ling told Agence France Presse.

"We don't know much about them, we rarely get to see them. We have taken samples and measurements and will remove the head and send it to the Australian Museum.

"The jaws will be X-rayed and together with DNA it should confirm the species of beaked whale."

Source: Agence France Presse


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