Shepherd's Beaked Whales (Tasmacetus shepherdi) were stranded at Anchorstock on 15th April 1983, and East Beach, Tristan da Cunha on 7th January 1985.

See also:

First identification of Shepherd's Beaked Whales at Tristan

Shepherd’s Beaked Whales Tasmacetus shepherdi at Tristan
from Richard Grundy

Photos taken on 15th April 1983
show Islanders
Ian Lavarello, Jimmy Rogers
and Darren Repetto
at Anchorstock
with the two beached
Shepherd's Beaked Whales

Island fishermen had reported seeing stranded whales at Anchorstock so Richard led a small group to investigate. Families probably thought the walk to Anchorstock too dangerous so only the intrepid Ian and Darren (of his pupils in Class 5 at St Mary's School) and young adult Jimmy Glass came along. However this meant the Administrator's Land Rover could be used! Walking was difficult as the usual path had been obscured by recent falls and wind-blown sand around the Bluff made going uncomfortable.

The stranded whales were measured and information sent off for analysis. Later it was confirmed they were Shepherd's Beaked Whales and this was the first confirmed sighting for the Tristan da Cunha Islands.

There were two bull animals found. Measurements were made by and from these estimates of volume and weight:

 

Bull 1

Bull 2

Length
7.35 m
7m
Maximum Girth
3.4m
3.4m
Jaw
60 cm
55 cm
Front Flippers
50 cm
50 cm
Back Flippers
60 cm
60 cm
Eye Slits
3 cm
3 cm
Teeth
Double row of c 24 top and bottom.
Volume
c 10 m3
c 10 m3
Weight
c 6 tonnes
c 6 tonnes
Tristan Island Studies
This was an example of the exciting fieldwork which Richard was able to complete with Tristan pupils when establishing the Tristan Island Studies Course, then examined by the UK Southern Examining group at CSE level. Darren still has his Tristan Studies folder which Richard was delighted to see when he returned to Tristan for Christmas 2011 aboard MS Island Sky. It is brilliant that another pupil, Trevor Glass is now Head of the Tristan Conservation Department.
Beaked Whale found at East Beach Stonyhill

Richard also found and photographed another beaked whale (possibly a Shepherd's Beaked Whale) at East Beach, the far east end of Deadman's Bay when walking with Margaret from The Caves to Stonyhill on 7th January 1985. The whale was badly decomposed but its distinctive beak and teeth were clearly visible. Some teeth were prised from the jaw, cleaned and are still safely stored away!
Photographs taken on 7th January 1985 show Margaret Grundy with the beached whale and a close-up view with a blue pen shown to denote approximate scale.