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Hunstanton whale: Guards protect stranded carcass Hunstanton whale: Guards protect stranded carcass
(35 minutes later)
Security guards have been employed to prevent people from "scavenging" from the corpse of a sperm whale that got stranded on a beach and died. Security guards have been employed to prevent people from "scavenging" from the carcass of a sperm whale that got stranded on a Norfolk beach.
The 30ft (9.1m) male sperm whale died at Hunstanton, Norfolk, on Friday after a rescue attempt failed. The 30ft (9.1m) male sperm whale died at Hunstanton on Friday after a rescue attempt failed.
Brian Long, from King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council, said the guards would stop people touching it or removing parts from the body. It is thought to be from the same pod as three whales washed up in Skegness.
The carcass is due to be cut up and removed from the beach. King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council said the guards would stop people touching the whale or removing parts from the body.
The carcass is to be cut up and removed from the beach.
Read more on this story and others from NorfolkRead more on this story and others from Norfolk
By Sunday the bodies of three sperm whales, believed to be from the same pod, were washed up in Skegness, Lincolnshire.
One of the carcasses exploded earlier during an examination by scientists.
At the weekend crowds stood close to the whale at Hunstanton, with some touching and stroking it.At the weekend crowds stood close to the whale at Hunstanton, with some touching and stroking it.
Mr Long, who took his son to see it on Sunday, said: "It can nurture an understanding that you just don't get from seeing a picture in a book or on the television." Brian Long, from the borough council, took his son to see it on Sunday.
"It can nurture an understanding that you just don't get from seeing a picture in a book or on the television," he said.
"[But] we don't want to see people scavenging, as has happened before.""[But] we don't want to see people scavenging, as has happened before."
The council will employ a contractor that specialises in the disposal of animals to remove the body, which Mr Long said is estimated to weigh about 30 tonnes. The council will employ a contractor that specialises in the disposal of animals to remove the body, which is estimated to weigh about 30 tonnes.
"Because of its size and weight, it needs to be removed section by section and it's not pleasant at all," he said. "Because of its size and weight, it needs to be removed section by section and it's not pleasant at all," said Mr Long.
Scientists from the Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme investigate all whale, dolphin and porpoise strandings in the UK and have taken samples from the carcass.Scientists from the Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme investigate all whale, dolphin and porpoise strandings in the UK and have taken samples from the carcass.
Programme organiser Rob Deaville, said they will test the skin, blubber, teeth and blood to ascertain cause of death. Programme organiser Rob Deaville said they will test the skin, blubber, teeth and blood to ascertain cause of death.
This then determines how the body is disposed of, either by incineration or disposal in landfill.This then determines how the body is disposed of, either by incineration or disposal in landfill.
The council said it had consulted with Public Health England and was warning people not to touch the whale or allow dogs to come into contact with it.
Water quality may have been affected, so shellfish should not be collected and eaten and anyone taking part in water sports should seek medical advice if they feel unwell.
Sperm whales are deep sea mammals and do not belong in the shallow waters of the North Sea.Sperm whales are deep sea mammals and do not belong in the shallow waters of the North Sea.
About five or six sperm whales are stranded in the UK each year.About five or six sperm whales are stranded in the UK each year.