Stranded humpback whale is dead

Sunday 16 December 2012

Two rescue attempts to free the whale failed. Photo: Novum

The humpback whale which became stranded on a sandbank near the Wadden Sea island of Texel has died, marine life expert Lenie 't Hart said on Sunday morning.

't Hart, who operates the Groningen seal sanctuary, defied an exclusion order around the 12-metre mammal to visit the site where the whale has been since Wednesday by rubber boat.

There is no independent confirmation of the death, Nos television said.

On Saturday, Texel mayor Francine Giskes van Texel had said the animal could not be saved and that a second effort to euthanise it may be made on Sunday.

't Hart is highly critical of the two earlier missions to free the whale, know as Johannes, and furious that her organisation had not been involved, despite its wealth of experience.

Sperm whale

Experts are also looking into the death of a sperm whale which washed up on the Texel shore on Saturday, around one kilometre from the location of the humpback. It is a young male and some 12 metres long.

The mayor said the arrival of two large marine mammals is an extremely rare occurrence. The entire area has been sealed off to the public and is being patrolled by the police.

Earlier stories
Stranded whale survives euthanasia as second whale washes up
Final effort to free humpback whale fails
Humpback whale rescue efforts halted

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