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Arctic Unicorn Found Stranded in Ireland First Time
21 Nov
Summary
- A narwhal, an Arctic whale species, washed ashore in Co Donegal.
- This marks the first-ever recorded stranding of a narwhal in Ireland.
- Scientists are examining the female narwhal to understand its cause of death.
The coast of Co Donegal has witnessed a historic event with the stranding of a narwhal, a species exclusively found in Arctic waters. This discovery is particularly significant as it represents the first time a narwhal has ever been recorded in Ireland. The female whale was found on Sweet Nellies Beach by a family, who alerted the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG).
The IWDG, in collaboration with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), retrieved the narwhal's carcass. Skin samples were collected, and the body was transported for a post-mortem examination. This unprecedented stranding has prompted scientific investigation into the potential causes, with experts noting a trend of northern movement in whale and dolphin species due to warming waters. The event also raises questions about the impact of melting Arctic ice on marine ecosystems.
This narwhal stranding is the tenth recorded in western Europe and only the fourth involving a female. Officials have emphasized the importance of such discoveries for understanding the impacts of climate change on vulnerable marine life. The swift response from the public, the IWDG, and the NPWS has been crucial in gathering scientific data from this extraordinary event.
