Stranded sperm whale found on beach in Kent
The Thames Coastguard investigate after a whale was spotted in the Swale between Seasalter and Sheppey
A dead sperm whale has been found on a beach in Kent following reported sightings from members of the public.
The Thames Coastguard and marine experts were contacted after a sighting of the 20ft mammal was called in yesterday morning.
In a statement which can only be described as ‘Pythonesque’ a spokesperson from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue said: “It has now floated away again as the tide has come in. We don’t know when it died, or how it died, but it is dead.”
The coastguard will return to search for the whale when the tide goes back out and the London Zoological Society will take samples.
In recent years there have been several whale sightings in Kent. In 2011 a 45ft sperm whale washed-up on Pegwell Bay between Ramsgate and Sandwich.
Meanwhile, in 2006 rescuers worked to help a distressed bottlenose
whale into deeper waters near Gravesend.
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