Humpback whale stranding off Kent

A dead whale was reported by a member of the public at Kingsdown beach near Deal in Kent early Thursday morning, 13 April. Following a phone call from Trevor Weeks at British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) HQ, medic Jo Malpass went down to the beach but the tide had risen and there was no sight of the animal.

Around 5pm Jo returned to the beach and was able to identify the whale as a juvenile humpback. It measured 9m in length and was placed in an upright position facing the sea. It appeared to have been involved in a ship strike due to its injuries which had almost cut its body in two. Medic Tim Malpass, later joined Jo, assisting to keep the public informed and away from the carcass.

After Mark and Alison Stevens arriving at the scene, Mark and Jo took blubber, skin and muscle samples from the whale to send to Paul Jepson, at the Institute of Zoology in London, for analysis.

The BDMLR team left the site at approximately 9pm, having spoken to the coastguard regarding the animal's disposal.

Click here to view photographs (c) BDMLR
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report source/permission: BDMLR