A large whale has beached on the Cornish coast. Experts from British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) were called to Nare Point on the Lizard this afternoon after the poorly creature beached on rocks.
Sadly the animal, thought to be 60ft long, was pronounced dead at about 3.45pm this afternoon - Friday, February 14.
Julia Cable, national coordinator at BDMLR, said the creature is a fin whale, which are also known as finback whale or common rorqual and formerly known as herring whale or razorback whale.
Fin whales are the second largest whale on the planet. Julia said: “Our team are recording some data.
VIDEO
BREAKING: A whale has become stranded on rocks at Nare Point on the Lizard@BDMLR experts are on the way .. members of the public are asked to stay away at this time
— BBC Radio Cornwall (@BBCCornwall) February 14, 2020
Thanks to @CleanOSailing for the video pic.twitter.com/cGNWccsfcb
“It will be passed into the standings network.
“They will do some sampling and maybe a post-mortem.”
It is rare to find fin whales in British waters and it appears that the creature may have been sick, although tests will need to be carried out to determine the cause of death.
Julia added: “We don’t get them in our waters. I can’t remember the last time one was recorded down here,
“It is really really thin so it’s likely it hasn’t eaten for some time.”
The whale has washed up on a beach at Nare Point, which is privately owned.
People have been urged to stay away from the area.
