A local story...Tests to discover how whale died
A post-mortem examination is due to be carried out on a sperm whale which died after becoming stranded on rocks on the Northumberland coast.
It is believed the 10m (32ft) mammal lost its way and became dehydrated before coming ashore at Beadnell Bay, near Seahouses on Monday.
The British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) said the 20-tonne whale was too heavy to be lifted from the scene.
A specialist vet is expected to carry out the on-site examination later.
Richard Ilderton, of the BDMLR, said the whale was too heavy to have been lifted back into the water.
Horrible events
He said it would have to be rendered before being disposed of.
He said: "If whales like this end up in the North Sea they won't have anything to eat and will end up dehydrated.
"That starts a horrible chain of events which ends up in the situation we have here.
"This animal was definitely not local and not of these waters."
Sperm whales are the deepest diving mammal and the largest toothed of all whales.
They can grow up to 18m (59ft) in length and weigh up to 50 tonnes.
The mammals are found in all oceans, except the Arctic, and feed on squid and other large deep-water fish.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/8480548.stm
And an update:
Thieves target dead whale's teeth
Scavengers have been attempting to steal the teeth of a sperm whale which died after becoming stranded on rocks on the Northumberland coast.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said officers had to turn away two men who were trying to remove its ivory teeth.
It is believed the 10m (32ft) mammal lost its way and became dehydrated before coming ashore at Beadnell Bay, near Seahouses, on Monday.
The remains are now being guarded while arrangements are made for removal.
Mark Clark, from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, said: "People are trying to extract the ivory teeth because they think they are worth something.
"The whale is protected under the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species regulations, and if people remove the teeth and trade them, then that's an offence."
Tests are being carried out by a specialist vet in a bid to establish why the whale became stranded and died.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/8481898.stm
No comments:
Post a Comment