Samples are to be taken from a number of dead whales stranded on a Co Donegal beach in a bid to find out why they died.
The eight Northern Bottlenosed Whales, the largest ever stranding in Irish waters, were stranded on Rossnowlagh beach near Donegal Bay on Wednesday.
Efforts to refloat and put the three tonne whales back to sea were unsuccessful and all were declared dead today.
A group of volunteers from the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group spent today taking samples from the huge creatures in a bid to find out why they died.
Although they are found in Irish waters, these whales usually swim up to 2,000 metres below the surface in deep water.
Sibeal Regan, Education Officer with the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group said they are trying to find out as much as possible about the beaching in a bid to prevent similar tragedies happening again.
“We have a team on the beach taking various samples to find out as much as possible about these whales.
“The coastal shallow waters of Donegal Bay was not where they were supposed to be,” she said.
Dr Simon Berrow of the IWDG revealed earlier that this was the largest stranding of this species on Irish shores.
Once all scientific samples are taken from the whales, they will be removed by Donegal County Council for incineration.
Tags: