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Mace Head
'A little unusual but nothing sinister': 40 foot sperm whale carcass washes ashore in Co Galway
Three sperm whales washed up this year, the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group said.
ONE OF THE biggest marine creatures in the world – the sperm whale – was discovered washed ashore in Galway yesterday.
Last week, fishermen recorded seeing a carcass of a sperm whale, which are traditionally deep water mammals, close to the surface off the west coast of Ireland.
Marine animals such as whales often come ashore when they are dying after leaving their pod.
The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) said the latest beaching was likely to be the same whale spotted last week.
“Another sperm whale was washed up yesterday, this time at Mace Head, Moyrus in Connemara. It’s most likely the same whale reported floating by commercial fisherman fishing out of Ballyconeelly,” it said.
This circa 40 foot whale is in great condition and well worth taking a trip out to Mace Head to see. Three sperm whales washed up this year, it’s a little unusual but nothing sinister.
“Please report any strandings to see if this is the start of something more worrying.”
On Tuesday last, a sperm whale also washed up in Magheroarty in County Donegal.
In February last year, the IWDG said a record number of whales and dolphins were washing up on Irish shores, partly due to them ingesting plastics and other materials floating in the ocean.
