Whale deaths investigated

SAINTHILAIREDERIEZ: Marine biologists are investigating the deaths of at least six whales found washed up on France's western shores with no apparent sign of having been hit by a ship or caught in a trawler's net.

Researchers yesterday used a mechanical digger and long knives to dissect a fin whale, the secondlargest species of whale after the blue whale, taking samples they believe might reveal evidence of a viral pathogen.

The common fin whales have all died within the past six weeks. All have been malnourished and shown evidence of hemorrhaging in the cardiac and respiratory systems. — Reuters

PHOTO: REUTERS A dead fin whale lies on a beach last Saturday in SaintHilairedeRiez, France. It was 16m long and weighed an estimated 10 tonnes.