Portstewart: Dead minke whale washed up on seashore

A minke whale has beached and died at Portstewart Strand in County Londonderry.

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) mentioned it came about on Sunday night time.

A spokesperson from the dep. mentioned officers have been involved with the National Trust and that exams can be made on Monday.

The National Trust has requested the general public to stay a distance from the carcass whilst it really works with different companies and mavens “to determine next steps”.

“Until this process is safely complete, we urge the public to continue to follow all signage and keep a safe distance,” a spokeswoman mentioned.

Dog walkers are being requested to stay their pets on a lead and underneath regulate if strolling at the strand.

The National Trust spokeswoman added: “Decaying marine mammals pose a serious health risk. They can carry a range of diseases that are transmissible to humans and dogs.”

While minke whales are recognized to be a few of the smallest, they may be able to develop to about 35 ft (10m) and weigh as much as 20,000 kilos (9,000 kg).

The species can most often be observed between July and October in UK waters and are living for as much as 50 years.

Whales can come ashore for lots of causes, together with harm, sickness, dangerous climate and navigational mistakes main them into shallow water.