A whale has been given a post-mortem examination after it was washed up on a beach in Cornwall.
The 52-foot (15.8 metres) long creature was spotted early on Wednesday morning on Fistral Beach, in Newquay, Cornwall.
Rob Barber, of the Newquay Activity Centre, saw the dead whale while completing a routine ocean conditions check.
Mr Barber, who has been a surfer for the last 40 years, immediately alerted relevant agencies. He said: “Upon getting a bit nearer to the whale… it’s absolutely huge.
“It appeared to be bleeding from near the tail end, but we don’t know why it died yet. It’s so sad to see.”
He said there has been a notable increase in sightings of these marine mammals around south Fistral beach over the past year and a half.
He added: “Over the last 40 years of being an ocean user, it has never been common until the recent 18 months. There have been so many more sightings.”
Local agencies are working out what the next step is for the whale – whether it will be left to be naturally taken back into the ocean, or removed.
Locals were warned to avoid the whale as its blood could be toxic.
Anthea Hawtrey-Collier, a marine standings data officer at Cornwall Wildlife Trust said the dead whale was a sad sight.
“The Cornwall marine pathology team has been given permission to perform a post mortem in situ.
“The findings should help us understand why this animal died and what the health of our seas are. And how these animals are faring in our waters.
“Fin whale strandings are still fairly rare [however] they are being seen more often out at sea off our coast.”
Source : Telegraph
