Experts warn whale carcass is about to explode on beach in Cornwall

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Locals have been warned the carcass of a huge whale could explode after it was found washed up on a beach in Cornwall this morning.

The mammal, found dead on Fistral beach in Newquay, was identified as a fin whale – the second largest in the world, measuring 54 feet.

Pictures taken this morning show the whale stretched out across the sand, with what appears to be blood around its mouth, stomach, and fin.

It is not clear what caused the mammal’s death, nor the cause of the bleeding.

What appears to be several scratch marks can also be seen around the whale’s face.

A Marine Stranding Network volunteer at Cornwall Wildlife Trust said that the mammal has a ‘high risk of blowing up’ and that it would be ‘very gassy and messy’.

Locals have been warned the carcass of a huge whale could explode after it was found washed up on a beach in Cornwall this morning

The mammal, found dead on Fistral beach in Newquay, was identified as a fin whale – the second largest in the world, measuring 54 feet

Pictures taken this morning show the whale stretched out across the sand, with what appears to be blood around its mouth, stomach, and fin

A Marine Stranding Network volunteer at Cornwall Wildlife Trust said that the mammal has a ‘high risk of blowing up’ and that it would be ‘very gassy and messy’

The ‘snowy’ tip on dorsal fin of a Minke whale sighted in the Hebrides, pictured last month in the same spot the whale has frequented for 27 years

What are fin whales?

The fin whale is the second-largest whale species on earth, second only to the blue whale.

It is found throughout the world’s oceans, typically in deep, offshore waters. Most migrate from the Arctic and Antarctic in summer to warmer breeding areas in the winter.

It gets its name from an easy-to-spot fin on its back, near its tail.

During the summer, fin whales feed on krill, small schooling fish (including herring, capelin, and sand lance), and squid by lunging into schools of prey with their mouths open

Fin whales have long lives—they reach physical maturity at about 25 years, and their maximum lifespan is about 90 years.

Males become sexually mature at 6 to 10 years of age and females at 7 to 12 years of age. After 11 to 12 months of gestation, a pregnant female gives birth to a single calf in tropical and subtropical areas during midwinter.

Newborn calves are about 18 feet long, and weigh 4,000 to 6,000 pounds.

Fin whales sometimes mate with blue whales and hybrids have been documented.

Source: NOAA Fisheries

Walkers have been ordered to stay away from the carcass, and the area has now been cordoned off by officials.

The scene was spotted by beachgoers and dog walkers, who can be seen standing near the mammal on the shore.

In January, the remains of a fin whale were found on Perranuthnoe beach on Cornwall’s south coast.

In June 2022, a ‘baby’ whale was discovered on Millendreath beach near Looe in Cornwall.

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in June 2021, a 40ft minke whale carcass was spotted by a walker on the shore near a windfarm in Redcar, Teesside.

Experts were called to the scene to begin preparations for the sea mammal’s removal.

When any whale washes up on a beach, a large gas build-up inside their huge frames mean it is often only a matter of time before they explode, sending their innards flying across the shoreline.

Colin Stonehouse, a member of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue said: ‘When I arrived I checked to see if it was alive, but it was already deceased, so we’re going to take it in.

‘We need to pull it back, take some data and find its cause of death.’

He added that while the North Sea would be its natural habitat it was not unusual for whales to come close to the shore.

He added: ‘It could be navigation problems, there’s a lot of bruising on it.

‘It’s female, a juvenile going towards adult, but I’d need to measure its length to get a precise age.’

Minke whales are the smallest of the ‘great whales,’ growing to an average of 35ft (10.6 m) long and weighing up to 20,000 pounds (9 tonnes).

They are also the most common of the great whale species, and can be found throughout the world’s oceans.

Emergency services cordon off a minke whale carcass in Redcar, Teesside, in June 2021

The minke whale is believed to measure up to 40ft and is usually seen in the North Sea

When any whale washes up on a beach, it is only a matter of time before they explode, sending their guts flying across the shoreline.

When an animal dies, bacteria inside the carcass produces methane as part of the decomposition process.

If this is not let out of the body gradually it builds up, exploding at the first opportunity.

Whales are the most extreme because their huge size makes the consequences of a gas build-up so much greater.

In 2013, a biologist was filmed cutting open a washed up whale on the Faroe Islands.

As soon as the biologist began working, the gas trapped inside exploded, spewing tons of organs and guts into the air.

Why do dead animals explode?

When an animal dies, bacteria inside the carcass produce methane as part of the decomposition process.

If this is not let out of the body gradually it builds up, exploding at the first opportunity.

Whales are the most extreme because their huge size makes the consequences of a gas build-up so much greater.

Living toads in Hamburg, Germany, started spontaneously combusting in 2005. It was thought that crows were picking out their livers, leaving a hole, so when the toads puffed themselves as a defence mechanism, their whole bodies burst.

And Royal funeral attendants hurriedly drilled a hole in the coffin of overweight English King George IV to let out gases – after an apparent botched embalming job.