‼️🌊RARE PYGMY SPERM WHALE STRANDS IN WALES — HEARTBREAKING END FOR A SPECIES ALMOST NEVER SEEN IN THE UK‼️
A late-night rescue unfolded in Trearddur Bay, Wales, after a 1.7-meter female pygmy sperm whale washed ashore — a species so rarely seen in British waters that fewer than 20 have ever been recorded.
BDMLR Marine Mammal Medics and Coastguard teams worked through the night, keeping the young whale upright, warm, and hydrated while vets rushed to the scene. Careful ID confirmed what few rescuers ever get to witness: a pygmy sperm whale, a deep-ocean animal that doesn’t belong anywhere near the UK coastline.
But the news was grim — she had severe injuries across her head, body, fins, and tail, likely from stranding on a sharp reef. Her small size suggested she was a dependent calf or recently weaned, alone and failing in unfamiliar waters far from her natural habitat.
Vets determined the most humane option was euthanasia to prevent further suffering.
A devastating call — but the team stayed with her through the end, ensuring she wasn’t alone.
The silver lining: this rare stranding gives scientists a crucial chance to learn more about a species that is almost impossible to study in the wild. A full necropsy will help researchers understand her condition, health history, and the threats pygmy sperm whales face as ocean patterns shift globally.
📸 Photos by Marine Mammal Medics Gilly P and Hannah A
Source: BDMLR Marine Life Rescue
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