Stranded whale calf in Cornwall ‘likely separated from mother’

A fin whale calf has been put down after it was found stranded in Cornwall.

British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) said members were called to the Mevagissey area shortly after 07:00 GMT.

It said a team of 15 trained marine mammal medics, including two veterinary professionals, examined the stranded female fin whale calf, which was about 6m (20ft) long.

It said the calf was in “poor nutritional condition” with no adult whales nearby, which “strongly indicates maternal separation, a situation in which survival is not possible for such a young animal”.

The rescuers said a fin whale calf was “completely dependent” on its mother for frequent feeding and could not have survived independently at sea.

“With the whale’s compromised condition and its inability to thrive without its mother, the BDMLR team and attending veterinary professionals have been carefully considering euthanasia options to stop further suffering,” the organisation said.

“The priority on scene is to manage the calf’s welfare, ensure public safety and minimise any further distress to the animal.

“Leaving the whale on the beach is not compatible with survival and, without veterinary intervention, the calf would face a prolonged and inevitable death from starvation and physiological collapse.”