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'Incredibly rare' Sowerby's beaked whale spotted off the coast of Cornwall
Overview
A Sowerby's beaked whale was spotted off the Cornish coast near Fowey during a wildlife cruise. Experts have raised concerns because the species typically inhabits deep waters in the North Atlantic and usually struggles when coming close to shallow coastal areas, suggesting the animal might be in difficulty.
Key points
- A Sowerby's beaked whale was sighted off the coast of Cornwall near Fowey by passengers on a Mevagissey to Fowey Ferry wildlife cruise.
- Sowerby's beaked whales can grow up to 18 feet long and are seldom seen at sea because they dive deep.
- Dan Jarvis from British Divers Marine Life Rescue stated that the sighting is incredibly rare and indicates the whale might be in trouble.
- The species is predominantly found in the eastern North Atlantic and is unaccustomed to shallow coastal waters.
- Cruise participant Toni Dowrick described the sighting as a major highlight of the year despite concerns for the animal's welfare.