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Cuvier's Beaked Whale (Ziphius cavirostris) at Ostend, Norfolk - 21st June 2002

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An adult male Cuvier's Beaked Whale was found stranded on the evening of 20th June at Ostend in north-east Norfolk, UK. Despite attempts to pull it out to sea by a lifeboat the animal later died. The corpse, now on the beach, has been attracting a steady stream of curious holidaymakers and interested naturalists. Weighing about 3 tons and 19 feet long, it's quite a sight.

This is a very rare stranding especially in the North Sea. It is found regularly in summer months in the Bay of Biscay. It is likely to have been a sick or old animal.

Staff from the British Museum are to carry out a post mortem to determine the cause of death.



All photos copyright Robin Chittenden 2002