South Africans living in Hermanus, Western Cape, have been advised by the Overstrand Municipality not to eat the meat of a Bryde's whale that washed ashore.
"People were warned about the potential hazards of consuming the meat and the physical dangers of working with such a large animal that is constantly moving in the surf, and on slippery rocks," stated the Overstrand Municipality’s manager Dean O'Neill.
The municipality issued a warning to people not to eat the meat as the cause of the whale's demise was still unknown, according to O'Neill.
"Both the Provincial Hospital and the Hermanus Day Clinic in Zwelihle were contacted about the situation and they will be monitoring any increase in potential associated cases," O'Neill stated.
Scientists from the South African National Overberg Stranding Network claimed that there was not much of the organism left for sampling and that they were unable to instantly determine the reason of death.
According to Lesley Rochat, the founder of AfriOceans, an organization that actively promotes advocates for business, corporate and municipal regulations and procedures that provide support to marine conservation, the ownership of whale flesh is prohibited in South Africa.