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Scientists are
examining a rare Pygmy Sperm Whale which has been found washed up
on a South Devon beach.
The animals
are normally found in warm waters in the southern hemisphere, which
means the find is being described as an extremely rare discovery.
The whale was
found on Thurlestone beach near Kingsbridge and was deemed important
enough to attract the attention of scientists from the Natural History
Museum.
They have been
collecting samples and information which could have worldwide significance.
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Testing
Time: examinations revealed that the whale was a fully grown
female
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Richard Sabin
of the Natural History Museum said: "We'll take some samples from
her ovaries to discover how reproductively viable the animal was.
"We'll
look at the DNA and see if we can actually fit it in with the other
animals we have had here, and also to compare with animals in other
parts of the world. Who knows?"
Linda
Hingley of Brixham Seawatch said: "They are normally found in more
temperate waters off South Africa, so it's extremely rare to get
one up here. Perhaps it's evidence of the increase of global warming."
Examinations
so far have revealed that this a female Pygmy Sperm Whale, fully
grown and perhaps 20-years-old. They can live to be around 30.
It is not known
how she died, but the big question for scientists is why she strayed
so far away from her usual home waters.
The last pygmy
whale found in the UK was washed up in west Wales five years ago.
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