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A minke whale has beached and died at Portstewart Strand in County Londonderry.<\/p>\n
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) said it happened on Sunday evening.<\/p>\n
A spokesperson from the department said officials had been in touch with the National Trust and that assessments would be made on Monday.<\/p>\n
The National Trust has asked the public to keep a distance from the carcass while it works with other agencies and experts “to determine next steps”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
“Until this process is safely complete, we urge the public to continue to follow all signage and keep a safe distance,” a spokeswoman said.<\/p>\n
Dog walkers are being asked to keep their pets on a lead and under control if walking on the strand.<\/p>\n
The National Trust spokeswoman added: “Decaying marine mammals pose a serious health risk. They can carry a range of diseases that are transmissible to humans and dogs.”<\/p>\n
While minke whales are known to be among the smallest, they can grow to about 35 feet (10m) and weigh up to 20,000 pounds (9,000 kg).<\/p>\n
The species can usually be seen between July and October in UK waters and live for up to 50 years.<\/p>\n
Whales can come ashore for many reasons, including injury, illness, bad weather and navigational errors leading them into shallow water.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n