The humpback whale appeared to have become tangled up in rope (Picture: PA)

A juvenile humpback whale has become the latest victim of man’s inability to keep the oceans clean.

The young whale’s carcass was found washed up on a beach in Scotland after apparently becoming entangled in rope.

The 30ft creature was discovered on the shoreline at John Muir Country Park in Dunbar, East Lothian.

People were urged to avoid the whale and stay away from the area until it was removed to undergo a post-mortem examination.


A spokesman for East Lothian Council said: ‘It is nine metres long and considered to be a juvenile at that length.’

A post-mortem examination is yet to take place but it is believed the rope was to blame (Picture: PA)

The whale was 30ft long, but it has been described as a juvenile (Picture: SWNS)

They added: ‘It may well be towed to another site and possibly a post-mortem examination will be carried out.



Today a report was issued that said one million species are at risk of extinction because of human activity.

Experts have warned that they believe a ‘mass extinction event’ is already under way. There have been just six such events in the last 500 million years.

The whale was taken from the scene to undergo tests yesterday afternoon (Picture: SWNS)

‘The level of decomposition is slight, it is considered to be relatively fresh so it probably died within the last two hours or so.

‘There was a whale spotted in the Firth of Forth near Fife that appeared to have a buoy tangled up. This one appeared to have been tangled with some ropes.’

A post on the East Lothian Council Rangers Twitter page said: ‘Unfortunately a dead humpback whale has washed up at John Muir Country Park, Dunbar.

‘Arrangements are being made to remove the whale and people are being advised to keep their distance from the site.’

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