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Gilbert the whale dead on beach Gilbert the whale dead on beach
(about 3 hours later)
A whale spotted off the Dorset coast has died.A whale spotted off the Dorset coast has died.
The 30ft (9m) northern bottlenose, which had been named Gilbert, was found dead on the beach at Alum Chine. The northern bottlenose, which had been named Gilbert and measures about 21ft (6.4m), was found dead on the beach at Alum Chine.
Gilbert, a female, was first sighted swimming between Bournemouth Pier and Branksome two weeks ago and had become a popular attraction. The young female, thought at first to be a male, was initially sighted on 13 September between Bournemouth Pier and Branksome.
Rescuers fear she may have got caught up in netting because rope marks were discovered on her beak. A post-mortem examination will be carried out. Rescuers fear she may have got caught up in netting because rope marks were discovered on her beak.
A warning has been issued to the public not to go to the beach as it is not yet known whether Gilbert died from a contagious disease. A post-mortem examination will be carried out and the body will then be removed from the beach and taken to an incinerator in Devon.
RNLI lifeguard 'Migrating south'
Gilbert was last seen in Dorset on Friday and there had been an unconfirmed sighting off the Cornwall coast. Conservationists had hoped she was making her way to the Atlantic.Gilbert was last seen in Dorset on Friday and there had been an unconfirmed sighting off the Cornwall coast. Conservationists had hoped she was making her way to the Atlantic.
Jenny O'Connor, from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) said: "I can't say for certain but it does look from the rope marks around her top beak that she may have been caught in some form of nets. Jenny O'Connor, from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR), said a bottlenose would normally be found off the west coast of England, migrating south at this time of year.
"Obviously this has got to be looked into by the appropriate authorities and with the pathologists. "I can't say for certain but it does look from the rope marks around her top beak that she may have been caught in some form of nets," she said.
"They have got to confirm this, that she has been caught in a net and may have drowned." "Obviously this has got to be looked into by the appropriate authorities and with the pathologists."
Another reason might be it ran out of food because it is used to squid and the only thing we have out in the bay is cuttlefish David Hubbard, beach warden
Gilbert was named after RNLI lifeguard Nick "Gilbert" Smith who first spotted her.Gilbert was named after RNLI lifeguard Nick "Gilbert" Smith who first spotted her.
Rescuers had said it was unusual to see a whale seemingly happy to stay so close to shore in an unfamiliar area. Rescuers said it was unusual to see a whale seemingly content to stay so close to the shore in an unfamiliar area.
It had been feared the mammal would become dehydrated feeding on small fish in the area, rather than its usual diet of squid, as it gets water from food.It had been feared the mammal would become dehydrated feeding on small fish in the area, rather than its usual diet of squid, as it gets water from food.
Beach warden David Hubbard said: "I just heard it could be fishing nets which are fixed out in the bay.
"Unfortunately it is used to such deep waters, it has been caught in some shallow nets.
"Another reason might be it ran out of food because it is used to squid and the only thing we have out in the bay is cuttlefish."