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Marine Medics Monitor Yorkshire Coast Humpback Whales

The BDMLR medics were called out to Hornsea on Wednesday.

British Divers Marine Life Rescue say they received concerned calls to their main rescue line on Wednesday regarding a whale swimming close to shore around Atwick, East Yorkshire. The whale reappeared later in the day around Hornsea

Marine Mammal Medics attended the scene to monitor the animal and upon arrival saw a Humpback whale swimming close to shore. Their assessments found the whale was actively swimming and no stressful behaviour was seen at the time. A second mammal was seen swimming close by, and both were actively following fish shoals.

Medics monitored the whales for a couple of hours as they swam south until they swam strongly out to sea with both animals 50m+ apart.

The BDMLR team say:

"We are looking to match the ID's with known whales in existing catologues to potentially find out where they have come from and any background. If you have any images of the whales please feel free to share them here!

Humpback whales can grow to an excess of 17m and have the largest pectoral fins of any whale. Their name 'Megaptera novaeangliae' means 'Big Winged' for that reason! There are increasing sightings of Humpback over the past few years along the East Coast, with most sightings have been Scotland Isles and the south coast. They eat a diet mainly of krill, small shoal fish, and plankton.

We extend our gratitude to the members of public who were so respectful and curious about the visitors yesterday, and as always to Hornsea NCI Coastal Services East Yorkshire and HM Coastguard Hornsea for their ongoing support as always.

If you see a whale or dolphin in distress or stranding, you can call BDMLR 24/7/365 who will send trained Medics to assess and asssist the animal. Tel: 01825765546"

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