The sperm whale which was found washed up on Old Hunstanton Beach today. Picture: Chris Bishop
Whale washed up dead at Old Hunstanton Beach, in Norfolk
Chris Bishop
Saturday, December 24, 2011
9:21 PM
A 40ft sperm whale has been found washed up dead on a Norfolk beach.
The huge mammal, found by a dog walker on Christmas Eve, had a large gash to its stomach.
The sand around its tail did not appear disturbed, suggesting the creature was dead before the tide carried it onto the sands at Old Hunstanton.
Large crowds gathered to see the whale, which is near the high tide mark, close to the Lifeboat Station and LeStrange Arms. Whales are occasionally found dead on beaches around The Wash.
A spokesman for the British Divers Marine Life Rescue said it may have been the same whale which had been seen dead on the RAF’s bombing range on the other side of the estuary, at Holbeach, some weeks ago.
Scientists from the Zooological Society have already taken samples from the animal, which will be left to be carried away by the tide to decompose naturally.
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29 comments
Seagulls are the greatest predator of the sperm whale, the whales sleep on the surface, the seagulls see this as a source of food and sit on their backs pecking, this causes ulcers and sometimes a whale has many of these ulcers before succumbing. These days, with more oil & gas rigs also windmills added to the ships the north sea is getting a very dangerous place for whales.
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Roger Wood
Saturday, December 31, 2011
It states it's a sperm whale
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Brian n Lyn Froggatt
Thursday, December 29, 2011
wat whale s it
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Patrick Sanders
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
A standard method of removing dead beached whales (once they get a bit yucky and smelly, which they do rather quickly) is to disperse the carcass with high explosives. A colleague of mine was called to do that once.
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Mark Ribbands
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Is it good practise to leave 40ft's worth of whale floating around the Wash? why didnt the RAF report it and have something done about it when they saw it.
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Skoalbandit
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
We went to see this yesterday as we live nearby, and it is an absolutely beautiful creature, dead or not! It was not putrid and stinking like someone commented, it really didn't smell too bad at all! Of course people are going to look, its not every day you get to see a sperm whale! Is a shame it died and ended up as a tourist attraction, but I feel priveliged to have came so close to such an amazing mammal!
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houch83
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
julygirl....you have a talent for poetry...I enjoyed your ditto. Although it does not deter the sadness of the demise of this mammal. It wasn't meant to be a spectacle for people to gawp at or belittle it's presence.
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FredJ
Monday, December 26, 2011
Totally agree with Ben, hope it was not victim of a human hand. I saw this poor animal with a big cut on it's back.
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kolibri
Monday, December 26, 2011
bigger family attraction than the german mob.
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nrg
Monday, December 26, 2011
there is a dead deer by the side of the A10 if anyone would to bring the family and view it
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ggj666
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Just a thought for the poor workers who have got to clean up the stenching carcass, unless it gets taken away by the next tide. Probably a bit big for a seagull, even at Christmas. Let's just hope this is the most exciting news story we get for a while eh.
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Mr T
Sunday, December 25, 2011
A lot of very silly comments. I suppose we should all hope it died of natural causes and be grateful it didn't die a slow and painful death at the hands of Icelandic and Norwegian fishermen.
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Ben
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Surprised it still had its teeth - they normally get taken.
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solengrim
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Surprised it still had its teeth - they normally get taken.
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solengrim
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Surprised it still had its teeth - they normally get taken.
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solengrim
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Yo-Yo Sushi
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chebram71
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Amazing sight, something a lot of people including us went to see today.
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solengrim
Saturday, December 24, 2011
it aint a pretty sight and it is putrefying.whats to like?
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bookworm
Saturday, December 24, 2011
what is the matter with you people. are you that sad that you try to make a joke out of everything. get a life.
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swifty
Saturday, December 24, 2011
We went to see it today, you marvel at how huge these things are, however sad it is we only usually get to see them when they're dead.
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solengrim
Saturday, December 24, 2011
I doubt very much, Peter, if the RAF are using sperm whales for bombing practice. Percy Trett wouldn't make such a daft statement
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Mr Majika
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Is it part of the natural cycle? The same one seen dead on the RAF bombing range? Hmmmm!
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chucky noris
Saturday, December 24, 2011
It might be part of the natural cycle, but that doesn't stop it being sad. Hopefully someone will be sad when we die, natural cycle or not.
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Johhny Reggae
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Thoreau. Not sad at all,just part of the natural cycle.
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Mr Majika
Saturday, December 24, 2011
I`m told most of the locals at first thought it was an American tourist. But it was far too quiet and intelligent.
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Mad Brewer
Saturday, December 24, 2011
can u make it into scented soap--call kirstie allsop for details.
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bookworm
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Whale meat again, don't know where don't know when, but I know whale meat again some Hunny Day
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julygirl
Saturday, December 24, 2011
bet it stunk.
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bookworm
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Sad.
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Thoreauwasright
Saturday, December 24, 2011