Parts of dead sperm whale sought as 'trophies'

Jan 27 2010 by Brian Daniel, The Journal

The cordon is also in place because anyone trying to get near the carcass in its current location on rocks might slip and injure themselves, and as the disintegrating corpse poses a health risk. The coastguard last night advised anyone intent on trophy hunting whale’s teeth are not valuable and also that their sale is illegal.

It was nevertheless planned to remove the teeth and lower jawbone to deter any other trophy-hunters.

An autopsy was carried out on the whale at 5am yesterday.

It revealed the creature was a juvenile, not mature as first thought, and had probably been alive when it beached, dying shortly after.

Cause of death was confirmed as starvation.

Meanwhile, the whale should be removed “over the coming days,” a council spokeswoman said.