The carcass of a giant squid that washed ashore at Long Beach, Kommetjie, on Saturday 30 April attracted fishermen and trophy hunters who removed vital parts of the sea creature’s organs that could be used for research purposes.
Jon Friedman, Wildlife Officer from the Cape of Good Hope SPCA, said when the team arrived it was too late as pieces of the giant squid had been chopped off.
“Upon arrival at Long beach, we saw a group of people gathered around the remains of the giant squid carcass that had washed ashore about an hour earlier, while 100 metres down the beach a group of local fishermen were sharing out pieces of the tentacles they had chopped off.
“The animal’s major organs were spread out around it and pieces of it were floating in the water.”
Friedman added that the most important samples that could have given more insight into the death of the giant squid had already been removed by fishermen and trophy hunters.
“We were only able to salvage a few tissue samples for Iziko as the most important pieces of the animal that could’ve offered us any insight into aspects of the animal’s age, its diet and cause of death had already been removed by fishermen and trophy hunters.”
With dignity and care for what once was a majestic creature, the rest of the remains were pushed back into the ocean for consumption by other sea creatures.
According to Friedman, although rare, giant squid strandings on Cape beaches is not a new phenomenon.
“The earliest recorded stranding of a giant squid on our beaches dates back to 1972. The last one we saw here was in 2020 when a squid measuring 4,5 m stranded at Britannia Bay.”
The largest giant squid recorded in South African waters to date, measuring in at 9,1 metres, was stranded on Kommetjie beach in 1992.
“Unfortunately for science, all the body parts of this particular animal, parts that could’ve told us a lot about this animal including how it died, were removed by onlookers and fishermen before we could get to them,” said Friedman.
He added the giant squid seemed to be in good health before it died.
“From the condition of its internal organs that were left behind, I would say that the animal seemed in good health, her stomach was full and she was only about two years old.
“As to her cause of death, I would say that she was most likely struck by a ship while she was at the sea surface as giant squid are normally deep ocean dwellers, typically inhabiting depths of between 300 and 1 000 metres.
“Giant squid grow incredibly fast and only live for about five years.”
Friedman further added that there was no need to panic or be alarmed by the stranding of the squid.
“Unless we suddenly start to see more strandings of giant squid along our coasts, I would hazard that this case is not a cause for alarm.”
Instead he says it signals that Cape Town waters are seeing more ship traffic than ever, making animals that tend to spend time at the surface vulnerable to being run over.
“The SPCA Wildlife Unit will continue to monitor all our coastal areas for any further unusual sightings or strandings of marine life.
“Giant squid are found in all the world’s oceans but it’s only when one washes ashore that we are really afforded a rare glimpse into this mysterious species.”
