Abstract:
The handling of beached cetacean carcasses requires social, legal, financial, ecological and logistical
considerations. However, limited research on the topic hinders informed decision-making. A large humpback whale
carcass that washed ashore at a South African marine protected area (MPA) provided an opportunity to gain insight
into tourists’ perspectives on carcass management within a national park and MPA setting. Eighty tourists were
interviewed, and a thematic analysis approach was adopted to identify key themes and quantify the responses.
Chi-square tests of independence were used to determine (i) whether the respondents’ views on cetacean carcass
management were dependent on their knowledge of the site’s MPA designation, and (ii) whether the provision
of contextual information would influence the respondents’ perceptions. Tourists had mixed responses to whale
carcass management, with half the respondents indicating that the carcass should be left to decompose naturally.
Viewpoints were significantly influenced when context and information on the decision-making process were
provided, with more respondents stating that no management intervention should be necessary. We propose
a simple flow-diagram as a decision-support tool, which, in combination with spatial zonation maps to identify
applicable management options, will help guide decision-making for management authorities. Inclusivity,
transparency and consultation with experienced role-players from multiple agencies will provide legitimacy to the
final management decisions.
