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Warning over whale seen off coast Warning over whale seen off coast
(about 1 hour later)
Conservationists are telling people not to approach a 9ft (2.74m) whale after it was spotted off the Dorset coast.Conservationists are telling people not to approach a 9ft (2.74m) whale after it was spotted off the Dorset coast.
The northern bottlenose, which has been named Gilbert after an RNLI lifeguard who spotted him, has been seen swimming near Bournemouth Pier and Poole Bay. The northern bottlenose, which has been named Gilbert after an RNLI lifeguard who spotted him, has been seen swimming near Bournemouth Pier and in Poole Bay.
Rescuers fear if the mammal feeds only on small fish in the area, and not a usual diet of squid, it may become dehydrated as it gets water from food.Rescuers fear if the mammal feeds only on small fish in the area, and not a usual diet of squid, it may become dehydrated as it gets water from food.
Experts headed out on a boat to check on his welfare earlier.Experts headed out on a boat to check on his welfare earlier.
Jenny O'Connor, rescuer for British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR), said: "It is very unusual to see a whale around here.Jenny O'Connor, rescuer for British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR), said: "It is very unusual to see a whale around here.
"Gilbert should have actually have gone over Scotland and down the west coast. It is very strange to see him in Poole Bay."Gilbert should have actually have gone over Scotland and down the west coast. It is very strange to see him in Poole Bay.
"We are concerned about his welfare and are monitoring to see if he is feeding as he gets his water from his food and we are worried he may get dehydrated."We are concerned about his welfare and are monitoring to see if he is feeding as he gets his water from his food and we are worried he may get dehydrated.
"We do not want too many boats going near him because it will make him very nervous and stressed and this could cause him medical problems. "We do not want too many boats going near him because it will make him very nervous and stressed and this could cause him medical problems."
"Hopefully we can encourage him to into the English Channel then off down to the Atlantic to join the rest of the pod." RNLI lifeguard Nick "Gilbert" Smith spotted the whale during a patrol a couple of days ago.
He said: "We were just out on a jet ski when we saw it.
"We didn't know what it was to start and took a photo of it and later found out it was a bottleneck whale.
"I don't know much about them, and never seen one off Dorset, but it seemed to look fine.
"It was diving down, coming up for air and looking OK."
Rescuers will try to encourage Gilbert into the English Channel then off down to the Atlantic to join the rest of his pod.