People have been urged to stay away from a dead whale stranded on a Derry beach in case it explodes.
Although it is far from an everyday occurrence, Padraig Whooley of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group said it is “reasonably common” for whales and dolphins to strand themselves on Irish beaches.
Last year, eight beached animals were recorded and in 2023 there were 10.
Mr Whooley said he assumes most of the whales that wash ashore are simply at the end of their natural lives.
“Everything dies,” he told Moncrieff.
“One has to assume the majority of whales that wash up on our shoreline or along the Irish coast have lived long healthy lives.”
However, the most recent stranding, a dead minke whale that washed ashore in Portstewart, County Derry over the weekend is thought to have died in an accident.
“Marks around its tail which are consistent with entanglement in rope - presumably fishing gear,” he said.
“So, it does look like this animal, his death, there may be a manmade cause that led to this stranding event.”
A fin whale. Picture by: Alamy.com.Whatever the cause, locals have been urged to keep their distance from the animal.
Whale carcasses sometimes explode and the National Trust has said it now needs to work with experts "to determine next steps".
“Bacteria builds up, they’re producing methane the whole time and a lot of that time that methane will escape through its orifices - its nostril or its blow hole,” Mr Whooley explained.
“If a whale is stranded and lying on a beach, dead, a lot of those may well be blocked up.
“So, those gases can’t be released, so it becomes a larger, tighter bound balloon if you like.
“Eventually, somebody will come along with a stick or a knife and stick it into it and they burst that enormous big balloon if you like.
“That’s where the whole exploding whale thing comes from.”
If you do see a live beached whale in Ireland, you can call the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group’s emergency number 097 28118 for help.
Main image: A dead stranded minke whale. Picture by: Alamy.com
