Lennart Verheuvel's Image

Lennart Verheuvel (the Netherlands) records a beached orca’s final moments.

Lying on its side in the surf, this orca had only a short time left to live. Initially rescuers were able to refloat and redirect it back into the open sea, but soon it was stranded again on the beach and died.

For Richard Sabin, Principal Curator of Mammals at the Museum and Competition Judge, it was ‘impossible not to be moved by the death-throes of this orca. The crashing waves, the darkening sky and the red light from the setting Sun provide a dramatic background to the black-and-white beauty of the orca. The raised tail flukes and vapour ejected from the blowhole show distress and weakness.’

A study later revealed that not only was this orca severely malnourished it was also extremely sick. Tests carried out at the University of Utrecht revealed the whale’s gums were seriously inflamed and analysis of its stomach showed it hadn’t eaten for a long time.

Research shows that orcas in European waters have the world’s highest concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls. These banned chemicals can persist for many years in marine food webs, weakening immune systems and reducing breeding success in whales, porpoises and dolphins.

How you can help

• If you find a stranded whale, don't attempt to rescue it yourself, as its teeth and tail are very dangerous. If in doubt, wait for help.
• If the whale is alive, call the British Divers Marine Life Rescue on 01825 765546 or if outside the UK, your local rescue line.
• If it's already dead, send us photographs of the whale, its size in metres or feet, where you found it and the date to strandings@nhm.ac.uk.