Gransnet forums

Chat

disposal of the dead whales in Scotland

(9 Posts)
infoman Sun 16-Jul-23 18:42:29

so sad to hear that approx 55 pilot whales have died on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland.
Still can't understand why the local authority have to bring the dead whales on shore to dispose of the carcass's.
Would a better option be for the whales be towed out to sea and sunk and let nature take care of the body's?

tanith Sun 16-Jul-23 18:45:51

I’ve always thought the same infoman. I know they are already beached but as you say would it not make more sense to tow them out to sea.

MerylStreep Sun 16-Jul-23 18:47:01

How odd. Why not let nature deal with them.
Another tragedy linked to the seas warming.

SueDonim Sun 16-Jul-23 18:47:39

That can be done in certain circumstances. Sometimes, though, the bodies don’t sink and you end up with a rotting carcass on the surface. Local shipping, tides and depth of water also mean it may not be apt.

MissChateline Sun 16-Jul-23 21:39:09

I lived on an island off the Isle of Lewis several years ago. We had a croft with a small pebble beach. A minke whale died at sea and washed up on the beach. It took at least a year for it to start to be eaten by crabs and other things. It stank. It was vile. It was a long time before it had decomposed enough to use some of the bones to edge a garden. The vertebrae were great for this.

Summerlove Sun 16-Jul-23 22:08:18

MerylStreep

How odd. Why not let nature deal with them.
Another tragedy linked to the seas warming.

Is it?
Pilot whales often beach themselves in large numbers, as long as I can remember

Katek Sun 16-Jul-23 23:04:50

25+ years ago five dead whales appeared on our beach. Due to access difficulties it was impossible to get a large vehicle to them, so ground was acquired from a neighbouring farmer. The carcasses were moved by tractor and buried.

Oreo Sun 16-Jul-23 23:09:34

It’s sad, and happens quite a lot.Nothing much to do with global warming as far as I know.

infoman Sat 22-Jul-23 02:26:03

more sad news, a dead single Whale has landed up on the beach at Littlestone in Kent