A young fin whale has been euthanised after stranding in shallow water at Pentewan Sands, on Cornwall’s south coast, on Monday 17 November.
The female calf, around 6.2 metres long - the size of a newborn fin whale - was found in the mouth of the White River early in the morning. A team from British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) attended and assessed the animal, reporting that she was in very poor nutritional condition with rapid breathing and no sign of any adult whales nearby. This strongly suggested she had become separated from her mother, a situation in which survival is impossible for such a young calf dependent on its mother. After veterinary assessment, the difficult decision was taken to euthanise her to prevent further suffering.
A full necropsy will be undertaken by the Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP), and Cornwall Wildlife Trust Marine Strandings Network to help establish the cause of stranding, and contribute to ongoing research.
Fin whales are the world’s second-largest whale and are currently listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, still facing threats from ship strikes, entanglement, ocean noise and climate change.
We would like to extend our gratitude to our friends at BDMLR and their incredible network of Marine Mammal Medics for their hard work, dedication and compassion during this challenging situation.
Photo credit: BDMLR
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