Dead humpback whale examination

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/south_west/7146707.stm

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A post mortem examination is to take place on a young humpback whale which was found off the coast of south Wales.

The whale, which is about 20 ft (6.09m) long was brought on to the shore at Aberavon after it was spotted floating in the harbour on Saturday.

Strandings co-ordinator for Wales, Rod Penrose, said it was the first time he had seen a humpback in 14 years.

A London Zoo pathologist is on his way to examine the whale which has been protected by coastguards overnight.

Mr Penrose said he believed the juvenile male had not been dead for long when it was recovered by coastguard and lifeboat teams on Saturday morning.

But he added it had started to decompose overnight.

"I think it had not been dead for long, probably it died the day before yesterday," said Mr Penrose.

Bogged down

He said they had tried to move the animal off the beach on Saturday because "there is always a potential for infection" in such cases.

"We did try to move it but it was too heavy. We moved it about 200 metres and then the tractors started to get bogged down, and we had to stop," Mr Penrose said.

He said he thought police would close off the beach to the public who gathered to see the whale while the post mortem examination takes place.

Afterwards, the whale is expected to be incinerated.

Teams pulled the dead whale back to the beach

Mr Penrose also said local people had told him they believed another adult humpback and calf whale were still in the Swansea Bay area.

The expert said humpbacks usually go around singly or in threes.

He said he had seen many fin whales, minke whales and long finned pilot whales during his time overseeing stranded animals in Wales, but never a humpback whale.

"I believe the population of humpbacks is increasing," added Mr Penrose.

"At this time of the year they would normally be expected to be seen off the west coast of Africa, although I do understand they do exist practically everywhere except the polar regions."

Its though there are around 40,000 humpbacks in the world.