Porpoise washed up on strand at Minerstown

Porpoise washed up on strand at Minerstown

4 July 2012

A DEAD porpoise washed ashore at Minerstown beach may have been struck by a boat, it is being suggested.

The animal was discovered by Conor Smyth late last Saturday afternoon while he was walking along the beach with his daughter.

Porpoises live in all oceans and mostly near the shore and hunt fish, squid, and crustaceans.

Mr. Smyth said the porpoise he came across had suffered a nasty head injury which would appear consistent with being struck by a boat.

“The animal had sustained quite a hefty head wound and it would appear that it may have been on the beach at Minerstown for a while as birds were feeding off it,” he explained.

Marine experts travelled to the area on Monday to examine the porpoise to try to ascertain a cause of death.