Northern Ireland

Huge sperm whale washed up on County Donegal beach

The huge sperm whale was discovered at Magheroarty beach yesterdahy. Picture by Irish Whale and Dolphin Group
The huge sperm whale was discovered at Magheroarty beach yesterdahy. Picture by Irish Whale and Dolphin Group The huge sperm whale was discovered at Magheroarty beach yesterdahy. Picture by Irish Whale and Dolphin Group

Experts believe a huge sperm whale found on a west Donegal beach died three to four weeks ago.

The 43-foot long male whale was found at Magheroarty beach near Gortahork yesterday. A spokesman for the Donegal Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) said the whale was in a bad state of decomposition.

“These animals are a very interesting species with the largest brain of any animal that ever lived on the planet,” he said.

While there has been a marked increase in the numbers of whales dying off Ireland’s Atlantic coast and washing ashore in recent years, the sperm whale usually stays in deeper water off the Irish continental shelf.

In June 2015, a 45-foot specimen was buried after it washed up on the same shore. However, the whale re-surfaced and had to be disposed off a second time.