 No live sightings of the species have been recorded, and the animal is classified as data deficient in the country's threat classification system. The species' first intact specimen was found when a mother and calf were stranded in the Bay of Plenty in 2010. There was another stranding in 2017 in Gisborne. If the animal that washed up recently is a spayed tooth whale, it would give them the opportunity to learn more.