A WOMAN was left stunned when she came across a dead harbour porpoise washed up on Rhyl Beach last week.
Tracy O’Donnell was having her daily walk along the beach with her husband, Eugene, when she spotted the porpoise at about 2.30pm on November 27.
North Wales Wildlife Trust attended and helped clear the porpoise from the shore.
Frankie Hobro, director of Anglesey Sea Zoo, said that, on the evidence of the photos Tracy took, the harbour porpoise appeared to be “quite freshly dead”.
Tracy said: “With the help of a couple of other walkers, we helped carry it to a car at Rhyl Golf Club.
“We understand it will be taken away for autopsy, and North Wales Wildlife Trust took our details to let us know the outcome.
“It was very fresh and could have come in on the high tide that morning.
“We felt quite sad that such a beautiful creature had been washed up on our shore, but satisfied to know we have helped with the recovery.
Nia Haf Jones, living seas manager at North Wales Wildlife Trust, attended the scene after the sighting was reported.
She added: “It was a team effort to get the porpoise off the beach and I’d like to thank the community members that helped.
“It was also a great opportunity to talk to people about some of the amazing wildlife that can be found around our coast.
“This young porpoise was reported, which meant that it can now be studied to help us understand what is happening in our seas.
“If you do come across a dead stranded large marine mammal (whales, dolphins, porpoise, basking shark, turtle), please don’t touch it, and report it to the UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme on 0800 652 0333.”
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