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Post-mortem to be held on beached whale Post-mortem tests to be held on beached whale
(about 3 hours later)
A post-mortem examination is due to be carried out on a whale which died after beaching itself on rocks in Cornwall.A post-mortem examination is due to be carried out on a whale which died after beaching itself on rocks in Cornwall.
The 20m-long fin whale looked "emaciated" but was thrashing its tail on Parbean Cove before it stopped breathing on Friday afternoon.The 20m-long fin whale looked "emaciated" but was thrashing its tail on Parbean Cove before it stopped breathing on Friday afternoon.
Dan Jarvis, from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR), cautioned against "jumping to conclusions" that the death was caused by plastic.Dan Jarvis, from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR), cautioned against "jumping to conclusions" that the death was caused by plastic.
Whale deaths in the UK directly caused by plastic are "very rare", he added.Whale deaths in the UK directly caused by plastic are "very rare", he added.
The whale is still partially submerged by the tide, but the post-mortem will begin once the water level drops.
A veterinary pathologist from the Cornwall Wildlife Trust will carry out the procedure, which involves cutting open the side of the animal and taking samples for analysis.A veterinary pathologist from the Cornwall Wildlife Trust will carry out the procedure, which involves cutting open the side of the animal and taking samples for analysis.
"Because of where the animal is it might be difficult to do a post-mortem," said Mr Jarvis, who will assist the procedure."Because of where the animal is it might be difficult to do a post-mortem," said Mr Jarvis, who will assist the procedure.
"If we can get access to the stomach it should be fairly easy to tell whether there is plastic in there."If we can get access to the stomach it should be fairly easy to tell whether there is plastic in there.
"Whatever samples we get will be taken for DNA and pollution testing.""Whatever samples we get will be taken for DNA and pollution testing."
Mr Jarvis said Parbean Cove was a privately owned beach, so the removal of the whale would be "up to the landowner".Mr Jarvis said Parbean Cove was a privately owned beach, so the removal of the whale would be "up to the landowner".
As a particularly rocky beach, burial won't be an option at Parbean, but the animal could be towed to "a more suitable site", he added.As a particularly rocky beach, burial won't be an option at Parbean, but the animal could be towed to "a more suitable site", he added.