Stranger on Welsh shore sparks whale of a debate
AMYSTERIOUS creature which has washed up on a Welsh beach has been identified by experts.
Dog walker Beth Jannetta’s discovery of the strange creature along Rhossili Beach, Gower, caused quite a debate.
The 41-year-old, of Dunvant, was walking her dogs, Roxy, Bella and Bracken, between Llangennith and Rhossili yesterday morning when she came across the decomposed creature, with a long tail and a large head, which she estimated to be around a metre long.
She said: “I was going for a run with my dogs when I came across it. It looked like a well-rotted cetacean to me.
“I put it on Facebook and it caused a big discussion. Other people think it is something different, like a crocodile.
“It would be very interesting to find out what species it is.”
Dr Dan Forman, of the Swansea Ecology Research Team at Swansea University’s Department of Biosciences, has now weighed in with his view on what it could be.
He said: “Its jawline suggests it is like a cetacean, whale or a dolphin.
“We get a reasonable amount of whales and dolphins, a lot which are dead and decomposed in places like Pendine and Rhossili.
“From the data around carcasses washed up, there seems to be a cluster this time of year around June and July.
“The jaw is thin in places and it looks from the picture like it is upside down.
“When you look at it the first time you may think it is a crocodile, but it is certainly not.
“There is a big bulge on the base of the skull which is characteristic of a cetacean.”
Mark Hipkin, National Trust area ranger, collected the creature from the beach yesterday morning.
He confirmed it was a porpoise-like creature, adding: “It is only about five foot long. We picked it up on a Land Rover and reported it to the council.
“We have porpoises washing up quite regularly, as well as dolphins and seals and sometimes sheep.
“It has not been very stormy weather lately, but there has been a lot of dog fish in the last couple of days.”
Dr Forman advised anyone who finds a dead stranded animal to contact the strandings network on 0800 652 0333.
The marine mammal strandings project was set up by Defra following the mass die-off of common seals in the North Sea in 1988.
The purpose of the project is to monitor the health status of marine mammals and marine turtles in UK waters by examining animals that are found washed up dead on the shores.
Fresh carcasses can give useful information on prey species through analysis of stomach contents, parasite burdens, pollutant levels of metals and organochlorines and give early indications of infectious diseases in these populations.
■ To report a live stranded animal contact British Divers Marine Life Rescue on 01825 765 546 or 07787 433 412, or RSPCA on 0300 1234 999.