Beaked whales spotted off Zandvoort; sighting is worrying, experts say
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A group of between two to four beaked whales (Mesoplodon bidens) were spotted close to the Dutch coast at Zandvoort on Tuesday afternoon.
The sighting is ‘worrying’ because these deep sea whales find it hard to survive in the shallow waters of the North Sea, marine welfare group SOS Dolfijn said.
SOS Dolfijn is urging people not to approach the animals but to give their location to the organisation. According to some reports, beach goers did manage to steer one mammal back towards the open sea.
Sea rescue crew were able to keep a close eye on the pod and keep vessels at a distance, SOS Dolfijn said.
An adult beaked whale grows to about 5.5 meters in size while calves are up to 2.7 meters at birth.
Vanmiddag zijn er spitssnuitdolfijnen voor de kust van Zandvoort waargenomen. Een zorgelijke waarneming omdat deze diepzeewalvissen moeilijk kunnen overleven in de ondiepe Noordzee. Zie jij de dieren? Meld dan de locatie via SOS Dolfijn of @waarneming https://t.co/4fDNlijh99 pic.twitter.com/gaj50beTxx
— SOSDolfijn (@SOSDolfijn) July 19, 2022
Dead beaked whales occasionally wash up along the Dutch coast.
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