Dead Sperm Whale on North Uist beach, Scotland

30-metre long mammal – believed to be a female sperm whale – found on Baleshare shore.

18 April 2011

The 10.5-metre long mammal was found on Baleshare shore, on the west side of North Uist, on Sunday morning. It is believed to be a female sperm whale.

The dead creature was spotted by local artist Jac Volbeda who operates the nearby Bagh Aluinn B& B in the village.

He said: “I think it came from another beach because the lower jaw is missing and it has been dead for a while and it wasn’t on Baleshare beach on Saturday evening.”

It is likely the whale was swept into shore by the extremely high spring tides which gave a maximum four metre difference between high and low water on the north west seaboard of Uist.

From Tuesday the chances of the whale being washed out to sea decreases as the incoming tides will not reach so far up the shoreline.

Western Isles Council has the responsibility of dealing with the carcass. If it is deemed to cause an environmental hazard it may be forced to crane it onto a lorry and ship it via ferry to the landfill site in Stornoway. Alternatively, it may be left to decompose naturally.

Sperm whales have large heads, which makes up around a third of the animal’s length. They feed on squid and fish and are one of the deepest diving animals in the world, and are able to go nearly two miles under water, holding their breath for up to 90 minutes.

The animal can live for over 70 years, and while once hunted, the end of commercial whaling and protection of the species has resulted in an increased population The species is now listed as a vulnerable rather than as endangered.

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