Huge pygmy blue whale washes up dead on West Coast beach

<p>A huge pygmy blue whale, measuring over 20 metres, washed up dead on a West Coast beach yesterday. </p> <p>According to Project Jonah New Zealand, the marine mammal was found beachcast at Carters Beach near Westport. </p> <p>It said the whale measured 21.7 metres in length and was estimated to weigh around 20 tonnes. </p> <p>Its cause of death was unknown, and tissue samples have been taken for future research. </p> <p>Photographer Ali Parish was at the beach to take photos of the animal, saying she "couldn't help but shed a tear". </p> <p>"Seeing one up close is an incredibly rare experience," she said on Facebook. "Such a magnificent and gentle giant of the ocean, lying helpless on the beach, it was a heartbreaking sight." </p> <p>Project Jonah said the Department of Conservation was working with local iwi to observe tikanga and determine the next steps for the whale.