Fifth sperm whale washes up on Lincolnshire beach

Updated
Fifth sperm whale washes up on Lincolnshire beach
Fifth sperm whale washes up on Lincolnshire beach



A fifth sperm whale has washed up on the east coast of England.

The sad discovery follows the death of a beached whale in Hunstanton, Norfolk, on Friday as well as three carcasses found near Skegness over the weekend.

The fifth whale was found at Wainfleet in Lincolnshire on Monday afternoon, according to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

It was found on a former weapons range and the public has been warned to stay away.

See also: Baby whale in dramatic rescue from shark net

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The BBC reports that is is believed the whales were all from the same pod, which was earlier spotted off the Norfolk coast.

According to the Guardian, the incidents have been the worst sperm whale standings off the English coast since records began in 1913.

Four Sperm Whales Wash Up on England's Eastern Shores
Four Sperm Whales Wash Up on England's Eastern Shores



Scientists have been studying the whale bodies, and one of the Skegness carcasses "exploded" when pathologists cut it open.

Rob Deaville, project manager at the UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme, a Defra-funded group that investigates whale deaths, said they were likely alive but hungry and dehydrated when they beached.

He suggested the whales died when the weight of their own body caused their internal organs to collapse.

Mr Deavile added: "This is an unusual event and the question hanging is why they were in the North Sea in the first place. With a lack of food and shallow, disorientating waters for a deep sea animal, they were always up against it unless they could find their way out through the big open end between Norway and Scotland."

The BBC suggests that the local council will dispose of the bodies, with possibilities including incineration or removal to landfill sites.




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