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cadger1978 · 19-05-2012, 16:03

Pretty sure it was an Orca, does anyone know if these are common in Ireland?Looked like it had been bitten on its underside but this could have been done by a dog or something after the fact.

**Mickeroo** · 19-05-2012, 18:37

Did you get any pictures? You should report it here: http://www.iwdg.ie/iscope/strandings/report.asp?id=88

They are reasonably common in Irish waters, plenty of sightings have been reported and I know a fair few people who have seen them. Never been so lucky myself though! A pod of about 30 were sighted off belmullet a couple of years ago iirc.

cadger1978 · 20-05-2012, 11:46

Unfortunately I didnt have my phone with me to take a photo but as it was close to the road and there was lots of joggers/families out walking at the time I'm sure someone must have gotten a pic.The gardai did turn up at one stage but they just had a quick look and drove off.I'll try to fill out the form as best I can but I didnt go counting teeth etc so I wouldnt be able to do it in detail.

OpenYourEyes · 20-05-2012, 19:25

http://www.broadsheet.ie/2012/05/18/...ymount-strand/

I assume this is what you saw? Porpoise was my first thought, but I wouldn't know enough about marine mammals to say its not a young orca!

**Mickeroo** · 20-05-2012, 21:07

Ah yea, that looks like a porpoise to me alright

lenovoguy · 20-05-2012, 22:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mickeroo

Ah yea, that looks like a porpoise to me alright

Was down there earlier but only saw the decapitated body , how would that happen ? Would someone have cut it off or would it have been a wild animal

Andy!! · 20-05-2012, 22:32

WILLY NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Quote:

Originally Posted by lenovoguy

saw the decapitated body , how would that happen ?

**Mickeroo** · 20-05-2012, 22:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by lenovoguy

Was down there earlier but only saw the decapitated body , how would that happen ? Would someone have cut it off or would it have been a wild animal

Possible someone cut it off I suppose. They might want the skull maybe. If an animal had got at it I doubt it would have just rmoved the head.

I remember a whale beaching when i was a teenager, it was badly decomposed, but folks went at it with hacksaws to get the teeth. a friend of mine was one of them and I still have the tooth he gave me.

Andy!! · 20-05-2012, 22:43

Eeeeew. Leave the poor animal alone I saw, no point desecrating its corpse for its skull. Weirdos.

**Galvasean** · 21-05-2012, 02:24

Looks like a harbour porpoise to me. A baby killer whale would have a larger, more bulbous head.

Andy!! · 21-05-2012, 02:56

And also look like a baby killer whale.

19-05-2012, 16:03	#1
cadger1978 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 18 Adverts \| Friends	Dead baby Orca on sandymount strand Pretty sure it was an Orca, does anyone know if these are common in Ireland?Looked like it had been bitten on its underside but this could have been done by a dog or something after the fact.

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19-05-2012, 18:37	#2
Mickeroo Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Not here Posts: 10,157 Adverts \| Friends Mod: Halo, Nature & Bird Watching, Surfing, Zoology	Did you get any pictures? You should report it here: http://www.iwdg.ie/iscope/strandings/report.asp?id=88 They are reasonably common in Irish waters, plenty of sightings have been reported and I know a fair few people who have seen them. Never been so lucky myself though! A pod of about 30 were sighted off belmullet a couple of years ago iirc.

20-05-2012, 11:46	#3
cadger1978 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 18 Adverts \| Friends	Unfortunately I didnt have my phone with me to take a photo but as it was close to the road and there was lots of joggers/families out walking at the time I'm sure someone must have gotten a pic.The gardai did turn up at one stage but they just had a quick look and drove off.I'll try to fill out the form as best I can but I didnt go counting teeth etc so I wouldnt be able to do it in detail.

20-05-2012, 19:25	#4
OpenYourEyes Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 637 Adverts \| Friends	http://www.broadsheet.ie/2012/05/18/...ymount-strand/ I assume this is what you saw? Porpoise was my first thought, but I wouldn't know enough about marine mammals to say its not a young orca!

20-05-2012, 21:07	#5
Mickeroo Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Not here Posts: 10,157 Adverts \| Friends Mod: Halo, Nature & Bird Watching, Surfing, Zoology	Ah yea, that looks like a porpoise to me alright

20-05-2012, 22:43	#9
Andy!! Banned Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 1,659 Adverts \| Friends	Eeeeew. Leave the poor animal alone I saw, no point desecrating its corpse for its skull. Weirdos.

21-05-2012, 02:24	#10
Galvasean Moderator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Hell's Creek Posts: 32,265 Adverts \| Friends Mod: Palaeontology, Transformers	Looks like a harbour porpoise to me. A baby killer whale would have a larger, more bulbous head.

21-05-2012, 02:56	#11
Andy!! Banned Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 1,659 Adverts \| Friends	And also look like a baby killer whale.