A RARE whale washed up on a Dorset beach is one of only ten sightings ever to have been made, local experts have confirmed - as fascinating details have been released.
As reported, Bridport resident Toby Hyde came across a dead pygmy whale while walking his dogs along Burton Bradstock beach on Thursday morning (December 9).
Mr Hyde first thought it was a dolphin or seal but was left puzzled when he took a closer look. Following his find, Mr Hyde sent photos of the animal to the National History Museum who described the 'interesting find' as a pygmy sperm whale.
A figure at the London museum added he 'would be interested in collecting it for examination' and understand how and why the creature ended up on the beach.
Dorset Wildlife Trust (DWT) said they were alerted to the "unfortunate dead-stranding of a very rare animal" on Hive Beach the following day - confirming that it is one of only around 10 recorded UK sightings of the elusive, dolphin-like creature ever to have been made.
- Read more: Rare whale washes up on Dorset beach
The Trust has now released fascinating details about the species.
The pygmy sperm whales are a type of toothed whale, like sperm and killer whales, but only measure up to a maximum 3.35 metres long, making them more dolphin-sized.
Although they are widespread around the globe, they prefer deep water, are not sociable and keep a very low profile when at the surface. As a result, they are one of the most rarely observed of all cetaceans.
Pygmy sperm whales, Kogia breviceps, have a dark grey back with a paler, sometimes pinkish underside. The blunt, rounded head is distinctive, as is the under-slung jaw with tiny, needle-shaped teeth only on the lower jaw. It feeds on deep-diving squid and fish and has a very unusual survival strategy in that it expels a dark fluid to mask its escape when threatened.
A spokesman for Dorset Wildlife Trust said: "This unfortunate animal was just a youngster measuring less than 1.8 metres long and may have died at sea and been carried inshore by Storm Barra last week.
"The cause of death was not obvious although some damage to the skin and fins was sustained, possibly from washing ashore on the pebble beach.
"There were also some ‘rake’ marks inflicted by another species of cetacean such as a pilot whale, although whether this was prior to or after death is currently uncertain."
The body has been collected by the Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP) at the Natural History Museum in London for further investigation.
"The fact that we know so little about these whales highlights the importance of protecting our oceans," DWT's spokesman added.
- Read more: Dead dolphins and seal wash ashore at Chesil Beach, Portland
- Devastation over tragic death of Weymouth's Danny the dolphin
Dorset Wildlife Trust records all dead-stranded cetaceans - whales, dolphins and porpoises - in Dorset and works closely with the CSIP to report and recover fresh and rare specimens for post-mortem examination and to discover more about them and the causes of death.
Fortunately, by liaising over this stranding with CSIP it was possible to record and recover it quickly for further investigation.
- If you find a live-stranded cetacean, please contact British Divers Marine Life Rescue (01825 765546 – 24 hours) urgently to engage a rescue. Never try to return it to the sea.
- If you find a dead-stranded animal, inform Dorset Wildlife Trust on 01305 264620 (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm) or CSIP on 0800 652 0333.
You can support The Wildlife Trusts’ aim to win protection for 30 per cent of land and sea by 2030, at wildlifetrusts.org/30by30
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