The remains of the fin whale, the world’s second largest animal, were found yesterday (Thursday) off Cornwall’s south coast.
Marine experts from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) and the Cornwall Wildlife Trust are now urging the public to help find the missing animal after it drifted into the sea overnight.
The BDMLR was alerted of the stranded whale after a member of the public reported what is believed to be a live whale stranded near Perranuthnoe Beach yesterday afternoon at 3:20 PM.
A small team of volunteer Marine Mammal Doctors attended the scene, but upon arrival the whale was confirmed dead.
Dan Jarvis, director of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue, said: “The whale was not very easy to spot, as it was on a promontory a little further along the coast and was mostly still underwater. It really wasn’t easy as the rest of its body was very much in motion with the tides and waves, only its head being forced against the rocks by the rough sea. was noticed.
“Unfortunately, when we got there, the 12 to 15 meter long animal was found to be already dead. It was too dangerous to approach, so our team pulled out from a safe distance to visually evaluate, collect photos and brief our colleagues at the Cornwall Wildlife Trust and Falmouth Coastguard.”
Although initially difficult to confirm, the animal was later identified by BDMLR volunteers as a female fin whale. The individual’s nutritional status was said to be poor, but the cause of death could not be determined without an autopsy.
A volunteer from the Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s Marine Strandings Network (the licensed recorder of all of Cornwall’s dead sea wildlife) also attended the scene.
The whale was evaluated by the Cornwall Marine Pathology Team for possible in situ post-mortem examination the next day. But when the volunteers returned this morning (Friday) to look for the whale, it was nowhere to be found.
Sightings of large whales, including fin and humpback whales, have become more common on Cornwall’s coastline in recent years. In 2021, volunteers from the Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s Seaquest Southwest project recorded 12 fin whales and 21 humpback whales.
Abby Crosby, marine conservation officer at the Cornwall Wildlife Trust, said: “It is extremely sad and sad to see the body of this magnificent mammal on land. But if the animal is found again, it is great for us to study the individual and gather scientifically sound evidence to help us preserve our marine megafauna for the future.” provides an opportunity.
“At the Cornwall Wildlife Trust, this year we celebrate 20 years of running the Marine Strandings Network. It’s safe to say we would know much less about the state of our Cornish seas and the threats to our vulnerable marine life without our dedicated volunteers of stranding, reports from the public, and partner organizations with whom we work so closely. .
“If you spot a whale or any dead sea animal on our shoreline, please call our helpline immediately.”
Also known as the ‘hound of the sea’, the fin whale can grow up to 25 meters in length and weigh up to 120 tons. They can be found in all the oceans of the world, but were heavily fished in the 19th and 20th centuries. The fin whale is currently classified as a vulnerable species according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Wildlife charities now require anyone who finds the missing whale to report it immediately. The public are urged to report all dead animals found on the Cornwall coastline to the Trust’s 24-hour stranding line on 0345 2012626.
All live stranded animals in need of rescue can be reported to BDMLR’s rescue hotline on 01825 765526.