Beached Sperm Whale In Race Against Time

A sperm whale stranded on Hunstanton beach has died, rescue teams have confirmed.

10:56 05 February 2016

A sperm whale that was thought to be stranded on a Norfolk beach has died. The UK coastguard received a call at 7:30 GMT and efforts have been exerted to save the creature.

 

The 46ft bull was found between Old Hunstanton and Holme and died at about 20:00, as confirmed by the British Divers Marine Life Rescue.

 

Rob Deaville, project manager at the Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme, said: "We know why the whales have died because they die through the process of live stranding.”

 

"Obviously what has brought them into the North Sea in the first place is a question everyone wants to answer but that will take many weeks to months to try to address."

 

Dr Simon Ingram, a marine conservation lecturer at Plymouth University, said that it was possible that the whale have taken a wrong turn while heading south to find females or been lured by food.

 

"At some point probably a group of whales have entered the North Sea.”

 

"It's possible that they have turned left too soon.”

 

"They don't know where to go, they're not in familiar habitats.

 

"They are exhausted, lost and end up on beaches."