Fears for sperm whale attracting crowds in Scotland

A sperm whale that has spent the last few days in Scotland's Oban Bay is attracting large crowds of locals and tourists - but experts are fearing for its health.

The 30ft animal has spent four days in the shallow waters of the bay, which experts believe may mean it is lost or sick.

Sperm whales are usually found in deeper waters further away from the shore where they feed. And, according to the Scotsman, the whale now looks weaker and thinner than when it first arrived.

The BBC reports that the British Divers Marine Life Rescue team are observing the whale, and are ready to step in if it becomes stranded.

Ali Jack, spokesman for the rescue team, told the Daily Record: "There is a remote chance there is something wrong with it, but it's hard to determine whether the animal is sick or not as it's not staying on the surface for long.

"There is no way to approach it because it will dive off straight away. On Sunday it was down at Kerrera Sound and it had plenty of opportunity to go out to deep water but it turned round and went back into Oban Bay."

"Its behaviour is not typical of a sperm whale, but we can only interfere if its life is in immediate danger."

He added that boat operators and tour vessels have been warned to keep away after reports of them getting too close.

And the whale's presence has certainly made waves in the area. Guest house owner Gilbert MacKechnie told the Daily Record: "The guests are quite taken with it and it's not only the tourists.

"There is a lot of interest locally. It was like a gathering out here last night and this morning."
He added: "I went on an Alaska cruise two years ago to see whales and I didn't see a thing but now I have seen one here."

Members of the public have, however, been warned to stay away from the whale in a bid to prevent it becoming distressed.

Oban is a resort town within the Argyll and Bute area on the west coast of Scotland.

It is home to a population of 8,120, but during the tourist season the town can play host to up to 25,000 people.

Oban occupies a beautiful setting in the Firth of Lorn. The bay is a near perfect horseshoe, protected by the island of Kerrera, and beyond Kerrera the Isle of Mull.

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