Published on:
07
December 2001
Interest in marine wildlife was heightened recently when a Leatherback Turtle was spotted in the River Forth near Alloa.
Now Clackmannanshire Council's Environmental Health Section has had to deal with a large dolphin that had unfortunately died and been washed up at Forthbank, Alloa. The dolphin was discovered by East of Scotland Water Authority staff near Alloa Sewage Treatment Works on 4th December, 2001. Eric Ferguson, Animal Welfare Officer, Clackmannanshire Council was notified soon after. He said: "Although it had died some 10 days earlier, the dolphin carcase was in good condition and distinct markings could be seen on its body. We were faced with the incoming tide, but both Authorities worked together to remove the dolphin, measuring 2.1m in length and weighing approximately 300 kg, from the shoreline".
Contact was then made with Mr. Bob Reid of the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC), Inverness Veterinary Centre. The SAC have been awarded a three year contract by DEFRA to investigate strandings of cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) in Scotland. The contract is part of an ongoing project which aims to investigate causes of death, monitor incidence of disease, and collect and analyse data on strandings. Under the contract the SAC team is also responsible for the maintenance of a database on Scottish strandings which goes towards a pool of data on all cetacean strandings throughout the U.K.
Mr. Reid of SAC travelled from Inverness to collect the dolphin and removed it for post mortem examination. A report will be sent to Environmental Health in due course.
To assist with their project, SAC is grateful for information about stranded whales, dolphins or porpoises on the coastline of Scotland.
Alan Gow, Area Environmental Health Officer, Clackmannanshire Council said: "Any local strandings of cetacean species should be reported to Environmental Health (Freephone 0500 545 540) or directly to SAC on their Marine Strandings Reporting Line - 01463 243030 - at any time. Speed of reporting is important. Carcasses must be collected while still fresh and also to avoid removal by tides. All strandings should be reported, however, regardless of condition".