Watch: Pygmy blue whale freed from New Zealand wharf

A baby pygmy blue whale has been freed after becoming trapped under a wharf in New Zealand.

The mammal, approximately 14 to 15 metres in length, became stranded on Kawau Island, off New Zealand’s North Island, on Monday. Local residents spotted it in distress.

The whale was freed after part of the dock was removed. It was then guided out of the bay, and was later spotted swimming in deeper waters.

New Zealand’s Department of Conservation described it as a “highly unusual situation” and said officials were actively monitoring the area this week for more potentially stranded marine life.

A sub-species of the world’s largest animal, the existence of pygmy blue whales was first recorded in 1966.

While true blue whales can grow up to 33 metres in length and weigh up to 200 tonnes, pygmies are slightly smaller. They grow to around 24 metres and weigh about half as much.