Experts investigate first orca stranding in England since 2001
Experts are investigating the first confirmed stranding of an orca in England and Wales for almost 20 years, the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) said.
The juvenile male killer whale, approximately 15ft long, became stranded in salt marsh in The Wash on the east coast of England.
It is the first confirmed orca stranding that the Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme, of which ZSL is a partner, has investigated in England and Wales since 2001.
Orcas are a priority species for research by ZSL as they are top predators which can absorb significant concentrations of marine pollutants such as chemicals known as PCBs which accumulate as they go up the food chain.
ZSL's Rob Deaville and Matt Perkins collected blubber, liver, muscle and kidney samples from the marine mammal, which was internally mostly intact despite its apparently decomposed condition having probably died weeks ago.
Tests will analyse the samples for marine contaminants, while genetic analysis will help determine which population the animal came from and teeth have been collected to accurately assess its age.
Interesting day out yesterday, examination of a fragrant juvenile male killer whale in the Wash- difficult terrain and access issues. First we've examined in England for nearly 20 years, more to follow next week. Huge thanks to @APCbirding RAF Holbeach and @MCA_media#CSIoftheSeapic.twitter.com/6MWw712oQz
— Rob Deaville (@strandings_man) January 11, 2020
The experts said there was no evidence of recent feeding as its stomachs were largely empty.
The team found a large fragment of plastic in the first stomach, though it had not killed the orca as the stomach was not blocked.