Dead Whale Newhaven Edinburgh
Edinburgh locals mourn the loss of a young whale found dead on Portobello beach
Community members pay tribute to the young minke whale
A young minke whale has been found dead on Portobello beach. The upsetting discovery was made on Monday morning by a local resident who was walking their dog.
The whale, which is believed to have been around three years old, was found beached near to the promenade at the foot of Figgate burn. It measured around 30ft in length.
The Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (SMASS) were quickly informed and they dispatched a team of experts to the scene. The team examined the whale and collected samples for further investigation.
The cause of death is still unknown
The exact cause of death is unknown and SMASS will now conduct a post-mortem examination to establish how the whale died. It is possible that the whale may have become stranded after getting lost or disorientated.
Local residents have paid tribute to the whale, with many taking to social media to express their sadness. One resident described the whale as a "beautiful creature" and said that it was "heartbreaking" to see it dead on the beach.
The council urges the public to stay away from the area
Edinburgh City Council has urged the public to stay away from the area while the investigation is ongoing. The council also said that they would be working with SMASS to dispose of the whale's body in a safe and respectful manner.
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