Werth Examines Rare Whale In New Zealand

Our dedicated and talented faculty consistently make groundbreaking contributions to their respective fields on and off the Hill. When opportunities arise, some venture abroad to broaden their perspectives, grow professionally, and collaborate with others. Recently, Patterson Professor of Biology Alexander Werth traveled to New Zealand to examine and dissect the rare spade-toothed whale, joining fellow scientists in this remarkable and unique experience.

The spade-toothed whale, regarded as the rarest whale in the world, is part of the deep-diving beaked whale family, distinguished by their dolphin-like beaks. With little known about this species, the opportunity to examine and dissect a spade-toothed whale is exceptionally rare, as no living specimen has ever been observed. Werth, who has been passionate about whales, dolphins, and porpoises from a young age and has conducted and published research on them, first learned of the whale’s stranding on July 4, 2024, through the news and from Dr. Anton van Helden at New Zealand’s Department of Conservation in Wellington, New Zealand. It would take several months of planning and preparation to carry out the dissection.

Werth went on to highlight that the most exciting aspect of this endeavor was the unprecedented cultural collaboration between scientists and two local Indigenous Māori hapū tribes. In accordance with New Zealand law and tradition, the Māori hold authority over most wildlife and all marine life, and they initially considered ceremonially disposing of the whale without conducting any scientific study, as it is sacred to them. To proceed, the team had to draft detailed proposals and work diligently to earn the trust of the Māori. This process was challenging, but after numerous virtual meetings, permission was granted in October.

“I was truly privileged to be one of three foreign scientists invited to travel to New Zealand to take part in this historic dissection of the world’s rarest whale,” Werth says. “Before our examination, the species was known only from skulls and badly decomposed specimens that have washed ashore. It was very exciting dissecting this whale, because we knew we were the first people to ever examine this species, so literally everything we saw and learned was new.”

“It is also exciting that I was able to be part of a historic cultural collaboration,” Werth continues. “It was a very fruitful and respectful interaction, and not only did I learn a ton about the whale, but I was also thrilled to learn so much about another indigenous culture.”

The dissection occurred from December 2 to December 6, 2024, at the Invermay Agricultural Centre in Mosgiel on New Zealand’s South Island. During this time, Werth was joined by two fellow American scientists: Dr. Joy Reidenberg, an anatomy professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City and an expert on airways and respiration, and Dr. Michael Denk, a veterinarian from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution specializing in whale sound production. Werth concentrated on examining the whale’s digestive and reproductive systems, as well as its vasculature, to better understand its diet and diving behavior.

“I love having the chance to meet and work with fellow scientists around the globe, and many of the staff who assisted us were young people who work at the Tūhura Otago Museum and the University of

Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand,” Werth says. “Their interest and excitement about science grew during the week, which was also great for me to see.”

Beyond the scientific activity, Werth took part in Māori rituals led by elders and children, including blessings, songs, and prayers. At a ceremonial dinner with the chief and council, the team reaffirmed that the Māori controlled all tissues, such as blubber and bones, and could pause the work at any time. Mutual curiosity fostered understanding, with the Māori asking about science and sharing traditional knowledge. By the end, several shared with Werth, “I can tell you are not just a scientist, but a teacher.”

Following the dissection, the team began preparing several journal publications and secured a presentation at a U.S. conference to highlight the collaboration. Werth also participated in multiple radio interviews, including with New Zealand Geographic and Radio New Zealand. During his week in New Zealand, Radio New Zealand conducted a series of interviews as the team worked on the whale, discussing whale biology. Werth addressed known and unknown aspects of whales, their deep-diving abilities, feeding habits, sensory adaptations for the deep ocean, and the threats to their survival.

“I can see that my students were excited to see how their Hampden-Sydney professors are doing fun and interesting things—that we became research scholars because we get so passionate about the various subjects we study,” Werth says. “This passion spills over into the classes I teach and the student projects I supervise at Hampden-Sydney. It was a thrill to be one of the first few people in history to look at, and inside, this whale, but honestly, even if it were a well-studied species that I have dissected dozens of times before, I would still approach it with many questions to answer. I hope to pass that sense of wonder and curiosity on to my students every day.”

Werth remains a prime example of an eager and passionate individual who constantly builds on his interests and seeks to expand knowledge of the unknown. As a dedicated professor and scholar, he strives to inspire his students with his curiosity and passion. In doing so, he not only furthers his own understanding but also encourages the next generation to pursue their own discoveries and push the boundaries of what is known—something Hampden-Sydney fosters through a community where intellectual curiosity thrives.

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