The National Whale Stranding Recording Scheme
Recent Events
October 2001
On the 9th of October 2001, a killer whale was found stranded on a sandbank near Speke Airport, in the Mersey Estuary. It was reported to the Natural History Museum by Liverpool Coastguard.
The animal was an adult male measuring 5.9 metres (19.36 ft) in length. It was the first stranding of this species to be recorded in the UK since 1997. Research interest in the animal was high as, earlier in the year, a pod of a dozen or more killer whales had been seen swimming off Cork Harbour for several weeks. A post-mortem examination was carried out at the site during low tide.
The nearest water was isolated and too shallow for boat-use. Navigable water was too far and the surrounding mud was too treacherous to attempt any journey on foot.
Fortunately, a local commercial helicopter company (Executive Helicopters) agreed to take staff and equipment to and from the stranding and to remain on standby for the duration. All activity was carried out under the additional safety cover given by HM Coastguard at Liverpool.
The above image shows an Executive Helicopters craft leaving the airport with the 1st wave of the investigation team heading for the stranding site.
From the air, approaching the stranding site. The 1st wave of the team is already established and engaged in the investigation. Nearby, isolated shallow water and the large expanses of mud are visible.
Staff from the Natural History Museum, Institute of Zoology, Marine Environmental Monitoring, together with a former member of the Department of Veterinary Pathology at Liverpool University.
Extensive sampling was undertaken, and sections of the animal (including the lower jaw) were brought back to the NHM for further analysis.
Parasites were retrieved from the animal's digestive tract, primarily the cardiac part of the stomach (above). Other than the parasites, the digestive tract was almost completely empty.
The animal was extremely emaciated and the dentition almost completely worn to the gum-line. Additionally, severe abscessing was found in both the upper and lower jaws, and may have contributed to the animal's inability to feed. In the above image, the missing teeth half way along the lower jaw indicate the site of an abcess.
From the condition of the tissues (e.g. internal bruising) it was suspected that the animal was still alive when stranded. In this case, however, the poor condition of the animal indicated that old age was a significant factor in its demise.
Since 1913, eighty three reports of killer whale strandings have been received by the NHM. Most strandings occur around the north and west coasts of Scotland, but killer whales have washed ashore along the North Sea and English Channel coasts, as well as west Wales and the north west coast of England. Killer whales are widely distributed across the North Atlantic and sightings are recorded in all months of the year in UK waters
We are grateful to Speke Airport, HM Coastguard Liverpool, Executive Helicopters. Finally, we are extrmemly grateful to Speke Airport Fire Station staff for the practical exercise of cleaning up by hosing down equipment and staff.