Sperm whale calf washed up on beach
A FEMALE sperm whale has visited UK waters 500 miles further north than has been recorded before.
A newborn male calf was found dead on South Uist in the Outer Hebrides.
Scientists believe its mum must have given birth nearby. Mariel ten Doeschate, of the Scottish Marine Animal Strandings Scheme, said: “It is incredible.”
She added: “It would be the first time a female sperm whale was recorded in Scottish waters and the second in British waters.”
Mariel said the first was the stranding of a female in Cornwall in 2016.
She added male sperm whales are frequent visitors to our islands but females usually stay in warm or tropical waters.