Ardersier Sperm Whale update

The Highland Council’s Environmental Health team have been on site today (Wednesday 8th January) to co-ordinate disposal of the sperm whale which died after stranding close to the shore at Ardersier in the Highlands.

The whale, which measured about 15m (49ft) long and weighed approximately 20 tonne, was moved further away from the village of Ardersier to farmland to minimise any public health concerns. The burial took place following a post mortem examination of the whale by a team from the Inverness-based Scottish Marine Animal Strandings Scheme (SMASS), part of Scotland's Rural College. The Council liaised with Scottish Environment Protection Agency on the disposal.

Alan Yates, Environmental Health Manager, said ”The Council has a duty to dispose of carcasses resulting from whale strandings, and careful consideration in this case required to be given to the disposal options due to the close proximity of  Ardersier village. The Council are grateful to the local farmer for their cooperation and assistance in disposing of the whale and to the contractors who did a  great job of moving and burying the whale in difficult circumstances.”