Sperm whale dies after becoming stranded in Firth of Clyde

A sperm whale has died after it became stranded in the Firth of Clyde last month.

British Divers Marine Life Rescue received a report of the mammal in Ettrick Bay near the Isle of Bute on March 8.

The 14-metre-long animal was resting in the shallow water, and ocean traffic was asked to avoid the area in an effort not to disturb the whale.

Plans were formulated in the event that the animal became fully stranded, however, it died of natural causes the following day.

SDPhotographyBute/British Divers Marine Life Rescue

Sperm whale strandings can be caused by malnutrition, illness, or injury, and they are not suitable to be refloated back to sea. The Firth of Clyde is too shallow to support the needs of a natural deep-diving sperm whale.

It is believed that the animal had swam from the south coast of Ireland to the Firth of Clyde, covering around 500km in two weeks.

The Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme is carrying out a necropsy to discover more about the whale and the reasons for its stranding.

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