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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 9m (30ft) whale after it was spotted off the Dorset coast. | Conservationists are telling people not to approach a 9m (30ft) 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 in 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, rather than its 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, rather than its usual diet of squid, it may become dehydrated, as it gets water from food. |
Experts headed out on a boat to check on the whale's welfare earlier. | Experts headed out on a boat to check on the whale's 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." |
'Very nervous' | 'Very nervous' |
She added: "Gilbert should have actually have gone over Scotland and down the west coast. It is very strange to see him in Poole Bay. | She added: "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." |
RNLI lifeguard Nick "Gilbert" Smith spotted the whale during a patrol a couple of days ago. | 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. | 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 bottlenose whale. | "We didn't know what it was to start and took a photo of it and later found out it was a bottlenose whale. |
"I don't know much about them, and have never seen one off Dorset, but it seemed to look fine. | "I don't know much about them, and have never seen one off Dorset, but it seemed to look fine. |
"It was diving down, coming up for air and looking OK." | "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. | Rescuers will try to encourage Gilbert into the English Channel then off down to the Atlantic to join the rest of his pod. |
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BBC South Today's Briony Leyland finds out more about Gilbert the whale | BBC South Today's Briony Leyland finds out more about Gilbert the whale |