Huge Over 20 Ton Whale Dies on English beach *UPDATE*

June 1, 2011 – 9:31AM

                       Died on the beach … a 13-metre long sperm whale. Photo: Reuters

A 13-metre (44ft) whale that became beached in north-east England has died, rescuers said.

Firefighters used their jet to spray the mammal, which was reported alive but partially submerged on the beach at Redcar in Cleveland on Tuesday.

A Cleveland fire brigade spokesman said the whale died despite efforts to save it.

                                   Crowds gather around the dead whale. Photo: Reuters

A cordon was set up around the stricken whale to stop people getting too close and causing it stress.

Police said a member of the public reported finding the whale, sparking a rescue operation to save it.

smh.com.au

A HUGE sperm whale which tragically died after beaching itself on the UK shoreline today had probably got lost, experts said.

Published: 31 May 2011

By STAFF REPORTER

A major rescue operation was launched this morning after the 44-ft beast was found stranded on Redcar beach in Cleveland.

But the partially-submerged 20-tonne adult whale was pronounced dead shortly after 9am, even though firefighters battled to keep it alive by dousing it with a jet.

Richard Ilderton, of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue, was called to the scene and said the North Sea was the wrong environment for such a large creature and it should not have been there.

Mr Ilderton said: “While we have whales in the North Sea, it is not a suitable environment for a sperm whale because the food supply is not there.

“It doesn’t eat, it becomes malnourished, it becomes dehydrated because whales do not drink – they get their liquid from their food.

“It can cause all sorts of health problems and ultimately results in something like this happening.”

He said rescuers can refloat whales of up to five tonnes, but this specimen was four times heavier.

“If we were able to put the animal back out to sea, all we would be doing is putting it back out to starve, which is massively cruel and against what we want to do.

“Although it has died, this has been a better option.”

thesun.co.uk

Fair Use: Educational

Sperm whale carcass to be removed from Redcar beach

1 June 2011

                                        The dead whale attracted scores of onlookers

Efforts are resuming to safely remove the carcass of a 44ft (13m) whale, which died after becoming stranded on a beach on Teesside.

Attempts to save the 20 tonne sperm whale failed after it washed up on Redcar beach early on Tuesday.

Attempts to use lifting equipment to remove the carcass failed when it became clear the mammal was too heavy.

Now experts are to be drafted in to render, or cut up, the whale so it can be safely removed.

Floodlights and screens were brought in to protect the whale overnight, which attracted scores of onlookers on Tuesday.

Police alerted the RNLI after spotting the stricken mammal, just after 0620 BST.

Click to play

Richard Ilderton of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue describes attempts to help the whale

A rescue effort started involving trying to keep the adult whale wet until high tide, but it died about three hours later.

Samples have been taken so that a post-mortem examination can be carried out.

A spokesman for Redcar and Cleveland Council, which is responsible for removing the carcass, said the process could take some time.

He said: “Ultimately it is going to have to be taken to pieces and shipped off to various places.

“It is not a nice issue to discuss but it is the only option available now due to the sheer size of the animal.”

It is not yet known why the whale was in the area, but some experts believe noise from shipping may have confused it.

      bbc.co.uk      

Fair Use: Educational

Dead whale removed from beach
Thursday 2 June 2011

A 35-tonne sperm whale which died after it got lost and beached itself has been removed from the beach at Redcar.

The 44ft juvenile was still alive when it stranded itself on Redcar beach, sparking a major operation to save it, but the partially-submerged creature died shortly afterwards, despite firefighters spraying it with jets to keep it wet.

Redcar and Cleveland Council was responsible for removing the carcass, which attracted a crowd of hundreds to see the giant close up.

Results of a post-mortem examination are expected to show it succumbed to malnutrition.

The North Sea is not a usual habitat for sperm whales as there is not enough food there.

yorkshirepost.co.uk

Fair Use: Educational