Record Smallest Sperm Whale Strands on Devon Coast

A sperm whale calf, measuring 3.6 meters (11.8ft) long, has stranded in the South West of England, marking the youngest and smallest individual of its species to wash ashore in England and Wales since record-keeping began. The calf was initially spotted in Seaton, Cornwall, in early February, but due to decomposition, it was later found again on Challaborough beach in Devon on February 21st.

This stranding is considered highly unusual, as it is the first sperm whale recorded in Devon in nearly 120 years. The whale's size indicates it was an "exceptionally young individual," as average birth length for sperm whales is approximately 3.5 meters. Historically, sperm whales found in UK waters have been subadult males of much larger sizes, around 10 to 14 meters.

While the exact cause of death could not be determined due to decomposition, a necropsy revealed a small amount of "sand and grit" in its stomach, suggesting it may have stranded alive. The stomach was otherwise empty, consistent with a maternally dependent calf feeding on milk. Scientists suggest the whale likely stranded much further south and was carried to the Devon coast by storms. The head has been preserved for potential use in museum collections, while other samples may aid future research.

This incident occurred during an exceptionally busy period for marine strandings in Devon and Cornwall, with February being the busiest ever recorded for Devon, also seeing a significant "puffin wreck" and numerous other cetacean and seal strandings, many attributed to storms.