Two huge whales washed up on Scots beaches died in 'grim case of rope entanglement'
dailyrecord.co.ukTwo huge whales that washed up dead on different locations of the Scottish coastline over the last couple of weeks died of rope entanglement, experts have claimed.A giant 9.60m long female humpback whale was first seen floating in the Firth of Forth on September 29 and a week later a 5.75m long female minke washed ashore 100 miles north in Johnshaven on the Aberdeenshire coast.The Scottish Marine Animal Strandings Scheme (SMASS) has now investigated the deaths using tissue samples and detailed images of the corpses and is "confident" both died from rope entanglement.Sadly, the organisation said these cases highlight the significant welfare and conservation issues caused by entanglement in floating rope around Scotland and bring the annual count of entanglement cases to 12.The Scottish Marine Animal Strandings Scheme said: "Two more grim examples of the ongoing issue of marine entanglements were reported to the SMASS team last week.
The first was a 9.60m long female humpback whale which washed ashore in Granton, Edinburgh with skin abrasions highly consistent with rope entanglements."A week later and 100 miles north, a 5.75m long female minke whale washed ashore in Johnshaven on the Aberdeenshire coast.
Due to issues with access and disposal, we weren’t able to do a complete necropsy on either case; however, thanks to the help of SMASS volunteers, we have tissue samples, measurements and detailed images of both animals and are confident that entanglement was the most likely cause of death."Both of these were sub-adult animals in moderate body condition, suggesting they had been successfully feeding prior to becoming entangled.
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