Friday 28 July 2006

Whale's body to be moved by crane

The body of a whale which beached in County Antrim is to be moved from the shoreline by crane.
Larne Borough Council said the remains of the fin whale will be disposed of at a rendering plant in Lisburn.
The young mammal had been stranded for three days at Larne Lough, as rescuers tried to coax it back out to sea.
It was put down after beaching on Thursday. The animal could not be buried at the site due to high levels of barbiturates in its blood.
There was concern they could get into the food chain. Tissue samples have been taken from the whale for a post mortem examination.

According to the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group it was the first record of a fin whale in Northern Ireland's waters for nearly 100 years.

BBC:

.... and they'll not be too keen to come back again!!

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