Investigations after rare stranding

A DEAD narwhal has washed up on the shores of Co Donegal, marking the first time the whale species has been recorded in Ireland.

- BY GRAINNE NI AODHA

The narwhal is found exclusively in the Arctic waters of the north Atlantic, and its males are famous for their long tusks, leading to them being dubbed the "unicorns" of the sea.

A family walking along Sweet Nellies Beach on the Inishowen Peninsula in Co Donegal first reported the sighting of a small, stranded 2-3m whale or dolphin to the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group.

The body of the female narwhal was retrieved by the group last weekend, working with regional staff from the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Skin samples were collected and the carcass was taken to the Regional Laboratory in Cork for a postmortem examination and tests.