Researchers to test brain of beached sperm whale

● Examination may offer clues to mammal’s death

0 The sperm whale was found on a beach near Monifieth on Thursday night, but had died before attempts to refloat it could begin Experts are to carry out tests on a 12-metre sperm whale that washed up on a Scottish beach after digger operators managed to open its skull and retrieve its brain before it started decomposing.

Dr Andrew Brownlow, head of the Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme, said the examination may lead to greater understanding of the creatures.

He said: “The digger operator, Martin Smith, used the

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shovel of the digger with the precision of a scalpel to crack open its skull in the exact location we needed.”

The infant whale, which was found dead on Barry Buddon beach near Monifieth on Thursday night, was examined by experts before being buried. Thanks to the skill of digger operators from Cuparbased FTM Plant Hire, a brain sample was taken from the mammal before it started to decompose.

Dr Brownlow was joined by a number of students from the St Andrews Sea Mammal Research Unit and fellow marine rescuer volunteers.

It is hoped the tests on the brain will allow experts to understand how the whale came to be stranded on the beach, which is both a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a European Union Special Area of Conservation.

Dr Brownlow said: “It’s just amazing to gain greater insight into these incredible animals. They decompose ridiculously quickly and the whale was already falling apart on Saturday. A postmortem on a sperm whale is just so difficult logistically. The head is massive.

“We will be able to rule out a few possible reasons for its beaching from this sample. It can now be analysed for any possible issues in its brain function which could have caused it to navigate off course.

“I want to thank everyone involved in the effort. Everyone did such an incredible job.”

The British Divers Marine Life Rescue team was called after sightings by a dog walker but by the time they arrived the whale had died.

Paul Smith, the BDMLR’S local co-ordinator, said: “It is uncommon to get big whales visiting the Tay like this – they’ll pass by certainly but it’s not very often they come in.

“The problem with sperm whales is that it’s the wrong species in the wrong area.

“They should be on the west coast; there’s nothing out there for them to eat, so it’s more than likely it has suffered dehydration or starvation.”