Fatal final hours of Withernsea whales in perilous seas
EXPERT ANALYSIS OF CARCASSES STRANDED SHOWS THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THEIR DEATHS. JAMES CAMPBELL FINDS OUT MORE
A WHALE expert has revealed the sperm whales found on the beaches at Withernsea is the largest mass stranding event in England in more than a century.
Rob Deaville, of the Institute of Zoology, has also revealed the sperm whale beached on Christmas Eve is the second biggest in the whole of the UK since records began in 1913.
But he also revealed only seven mammals were stranded and not ten as previously reported.
It is believed two washed back into the sea while one is being removed by East Riding Council which is close to Withernsea promenade. The other four have been left to decompose naturally by the Crown Estate.
In a series of tweets, Mr Deaville revealed more about the whales and the state of the cetaceans.
He said: “This is the largest sperm whale mass stranding event documented in England and the second largest in the UK over the last century with data on UK strandings recorded by the Natural History Museum from 1913 and by the Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP) since 1990.
“Two bodies disappeared on tides following the Christmas Eve stranding. Logistically it has been challenging to examine other bodies and too decomposed to allow meaningful pathological investigation.
“But we have been able to collect data and samples from all five whales remaining onsite.
“They are all juvenile males between 11m and 13m in length, as with nearly every other UK stranded sperm whale.”
Mr Deaville and colleagues were able to carry out an autopsy and discovered what the whales had not eaten for a while and one had possibly been struck by a vessel.
The North Sea is not normally an area they inhabit as the water is not deep enough for deep-sea squid, which is their favourite food.
Mr Deaville said: “We have been able to access and examine stomachs in two of the stranded sperm whales with large quantities of squid beaks but no evidence of recent feeding and no visible plastics or marine debris noted.
“Deep parallel linear scars across the head of one animal consistent with a non-fatal vessel interaction. Interesting that even in deep diving offshore species, evidence of our activities and their impacts can still be seen.”
East Riding Council is set to move the whale close to Withernsea promenade but the four whales in more isolated locations are being left.
The removal of the cetaceans has been deemed “practically very difficult” due to the lack of access from the cliffs.
The Crown Estate says the area is largely inaccessible which means removing the whales would be a logistical nightmare.
A spokeswoman for The Crown Estate told Hull Live last week: “Following the sad news of the deceased whales we have followed up with partners, including the Receiver of Wreck and the local authority.
“We understand that two of the whales are located on our foreshore but that they are located in areas with limited public access and where their removal would be practically very difficult.
“We would therefore echo the advice of the authorities that members of the public should keep away from the whales.”
There have been complaints of a “potent” stench coming off the bodies which “takes your breath away”.
With the decision not to remove four of the whales, the Marine and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is urging people to stay away from the animals.
A spokesman for the MCA said: Five of deceased whales remain at Withernsea.
“The Natural History Museum has been on site taking samples. Cetaceans can carry diseases that are harmful to humans and pets, so please keep children well away and we advise that dogs are kept on leads.
“Even when cetaceans are dead, possession of any part of the animal is strictly illegal under the Wildlife and Countryside Act and Habitats Regulations, except under Natural England licence.” the