Cape Town Disaster Management says they have no idea why a whale beached along the False Bay coast at the weekend.

The five-metre-long mammal first washed up at Sunrise Beach near Muizenberg on Sunday.

Dozens of volunteers helped authorities to hydrate the whale, before it was successfully returned to sea near the Simon’s Town naval base.

However, the mammal beached again a short while later, sustaining severe injuries, and had to be euthanised.

Disaster Management spokesperson Wilfred Solomons-Johannes says an investigation is underway to determine why the whale beached.

“The remainder of the whale will be taken to the Iziko Museum where scientists will conduct studies to determine why the whale stranded along the False Bay coastline," says Solomons-Johannes.

Earlier this year more than 50 whales washed up at Kommetjie Beach in Cape Town.

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