Six whales have washed ashore onto Irish rocks and beaches in a matter of days.
Since the start of August six Cuvier’s beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris) have been found on Irish shores – the latest at Carrickabraghy in County Donegal.
The other five have been found in the north and west north and west of the country including in Sheephaven Bay, on Gola Island, Omey Island in County Galway, Cliffony in Sligo and at Tirraun on the Mullet Peninsula.
It follows a similar story on the other side of the world in Namibia where the latest was found at Dorob National Park in Namibia.
Cuvier’s beaked whales can grow to nearly 7000lb and are to be found across the world’s oceans in temperate, subtropical and tropical waters.
They are an extremely deep-diving whale notable for what some have described as a ‘goose’ like head with an upward jawline that gives them a smiling appearance.
The species is known to dive to over 3000 feet and use sonar-like sounds to communicate, and it’s possible they have been confused in both cases by naval operations.
