Online photos have emerged following the discovery of the colossal 20-meter mammal’s lifeless body on Arranmore Island, located off the west coast of the county.
It is believed to be a rare fin whale, and its body was floating in the waters off the island before it became beached yesterday.
20-metre whale found dead in Donegal. Pic: Arranmore Blue Ferry/Facebook
It is understood Arranmore Lifeboat crews first discovered the whale off-shore on Saturday, before it washed up on the eastern side of the island.
Nora Flanagan, spokeswoman for the Arranmore Lifeboat, told Highland Radio on Monday: ‘Somebody local had seen a huge flock of birds driving and congregating in the area.
‘The crew went out there and found a huge 20-metre whale out there, unfortunately the whale was dead.
20-metre whale found dead in Donegal. Pic: Arranmore Blue Ferry
20-metre whale found dead in Donegal. Pic: Arranmore Blue Ferry/Facebook
‘Today the whale is beached at a place called Bell Chraois in Arranmore, it’s on the eastern side of the island — it’s a very sheltered cove.
‘It’s a huge, big whale and it’s beginning to decompose so we’re hoping the carcass will be removed.’
Flanagan added that it is likely the whale would eventually be towed out to see and ‘buried’ in the water, as opposed to on the island.
