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On Monday evening we carried out a field examination on the fin whale which stranded and died in the Dee estuary over the weekend. Examination carried out by a CSIP team from @OfficialZSL and MEM ( @RodPenrose) with support from colleagues at @NatResWales and @LivUni. #CSIoftheSea
The 12.65m male whale calf (SW2020/362) had live stranded at least twice within the Dee estuary over 12th-14th June, before being found dead on the morning of Sunday 14th. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-53034506 #CSIoftheSea
The whale was judged to be in moderate-poor nutritional condition, with no evidence of recent feeding. Note visibly protruding ribs and concavity behind head; also asymmetrical pigmentation of the head which is a feature of this species https://uk.whales.org/whales-dolphins/species-guide/fin-whale/ #CSIoftheSea
CSIP team from @ZSL and Marine Environmental Monitoring working together to remove the blubber layer and access the organs of the fin whale #CSIoftheSea
Relatively minor parasitic infestations were noted within kidneys (consistent with Crassicauda sp.). Crassicaudosis is a known issue in fin whales and can cause significant problems (e.g. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1305859/ ). Kidneys thought to be mainly normal though #CSIoftheSea
Minor parasitic infestations also noted within stomachs, intestinal tract and the blubber. The skin/blubber parasite is likely to be Pennella sp. a copepod seen in other UK stranded fin whales. Note branching within blubber as also seen here- https://www.calwhales.org/pennella.html #CSIoftheSea
No evidence of marine debris/plastic ingestion was found within the gastrointestinal tract #CSIoftheSea
Likely to be a young individual- literature describes birth length of fin whales as around 6m, with weaning around six months later at approx. 10-12m. So on the basis of length, this whale may have been around a year old and relatively recently weaned
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fin_whale
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fin_whale
Findings from the gross examination are currently considered to be consistent with live stranding of a nutritionally compromised and out of habitat individual. Further tests are pending and follow up results will be posted if anything of note arises. #CSIoftheSea
Wide range of samples and data collected during Mondays examination. Third fin whale reported stranded in the UK this year- over the last five-year period 17 stranded fin whales have been recorded in the UK (2015-2019, data CSIP database) e.g. http://sciencesearch.defra.gov.uk/Document.aspx?Document=14514_FINALCSIPContractReport2011-2017.pdf #CSIoftheSea
Huge thanks to everyone who helped us over the last few days- our friends and colleagues from @NatResWales; Dr Julian Chantrey from @LivUni; all the volunteers in @BDMLR. And special thanks to all at the Port of Mostyn, Marland Marine and Bob Francis Crane Hire #CSIoftheSea
Hope this has been of some interest. Difficult times out there, look after each other and see you on the beaches soon... #CSIoftheSea
