The corpse of a 40ft sperm whale has washed ashore on the west coast of Ireland.
The mammal, whose kind are found deep in the ocean, was found at Mace Head, Moyrus in Connemara, Co Galway on Sunday.
It is reported that it had been already dead when it reached the shore.
Fisherman said they saw a sperm whale close to the surface off the coast last week.
It is believed that this is the same whale as the one that washed up at Connemara, according to the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG).
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A spokesperson for the group said: “Another sperm whale was washed up yesterday, this time at Mace Head, Moyrus, near Carna in Connemara. It’s most likely the same whale reported floating by commercial fishermen fishing out of Ballyconnelly.
“The stranding at Mace Head was reported to the IWDG by Seamus MacDonnacha of Cill Chiaráin, and Rónán Ó Conghaile, this 40ft whale is in great condition and well worth taking a trip out to Mace Head to see.
“Three sperm whales washed up this year is a little unusual but nothing sinister, please report any strandings to see if this is the start of something more worrying.”
