18 May 2005

Sperm whale beached in American Samoa

1:37 pm on 18 May 2005

Residents of Vaitogi village in American Samoa have found what is believed to be a Sperm Whale dead on a beach.

The Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources says the jaw of the 15-metre long mammal was removed from the carcass and buried to prevent poachers extracting the teeth for carving.

Efforts are being made to remove the whale from the shore and dispose of it at sea.