Dead minke whale washes up on Irvine beach

A dead minke whale has been found washed up on Irvine beach in Ayrshire.

North Ayrshire Council said it was "evaluating" options to remove the whale from the beach, which is a popular spot with dog-walkers.

The Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (SMASS) said it would examine the whale to determine a cause of death once it had been moved.

Whales can come ashore for many reasons, including injury, illness, bad weather and navigational errors leading them into shallow water.

A SMASS spokesperson said: "We are liaising with the local council who are planning to relocate the carcass.

"As part of our examination we will aim to establish a cause of death, as well as take a range of samples which will tell us a lot about the ecology of the animal.

"This will include, for example, what it has been feeding on, and so will help us begin to understand how the animal, and others from its population, lived."

North Ayrshire Council said that being able to move the whale would depend on the tide.

A spokesperson added: "We have been in contact with Coastwatch and the Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme regarding the remains.

"We are evaluating the best options for removal from the beach."

HM Coastguard estimates that around 20-50 whales, dolphins and porpoises become stranded onshore in a year.

In 2023 an entire pod of 55 pilot whales died after a mass stranding on a Western Isles beach.