Stranded whales spark mystery over their species

Two whales discovered stranded on a beach have sparked a mystery after experts were left stumped over identifying the exact species.

The creatures were found dead between Mundesley and Trimingham in north Norfolk on Monday.

Initially, the male and female pair were identified as Sowerby's beaked whales. But whale experts have since said they could be a more unusual species not normally found in UK waters.

The Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP) is conducting further analysis of the animals to understand where they might have come from.

In a statement published online, the agency based at the Zoological Society of London said the interim findings suggest the animals are "out of habitat". Genetic investigations and skeletal analysis will follow to definitively confirm the species.

So far, it knows they are a type of beaked whale and that one of the whales was male, the other female and both were juveniles about 3.4m (11ft 2in) in length.

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The British Divers Marine Life Rescue group, which sent a team of marine medics to the beach, said the stranded whales had died before their arrival.

A spokesperson added: "Both whales appeared to have been in good body condition, with large amounts of superficial grazing and injuries consistent with being stranded and washing in on the tide, though uncertainty surrounded their species identification."

North Norfolk District Council officers safely removed the whales and transported them to the CSIP for analysis.

Beaked whales, which are resident in the North Atlantic and North Sea, are an elusive species and little is known about them.

Although they do occasionally get stranded on beaches, they are rarely seen at sea. They can dive for extended amounts of time, feeding on squid and fish such as Atlantic cod.

A Sowerby's beaked whale was previously found in Snettisham last August. A minke whale was also found at Hemsby beach last month. A sperm whale was also found in Sheringham in 2021.

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