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A rare baby whale was discovered on an Anglesey beach. The Pygmy whale was stranded alive on Trearddur Bay.
Experts were called in to try to save its life but their strenuous efforts last week were sadly in vain. A decision was taken to euthanise the whale to end its suffering.
In a separate incident yesterday the body of a porpoise was found on Llanddwyn beach, also on the island. It had been there for some time. Get the best island stories from our Anglesey newsletter - sent every Friday
The whale was believed to have been spotted by a member of the public on Thursday at 6.40pm. A HM Coastguard spokesman said today: "It was a really rare, Pygmy sperm whale.
"It was alive when they found it. They let the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) know.
"They got water from the Sea Shanty cafe to keep it alive." But the spokesman said a veterinary surgeon who was also called out had to euthanise it in the end."
Coastguard Rescue Teams (CRT) from Holyhead and Rhosneigr were also on the scene. Rhosneigr CRT said on Facebook it was tasked by the coastguard to help colleagues from Holyhead CRT with a stranded, live Pygmy sperm whale on Trearddur Bay beach.
A Rhosneigr CRT spokesman wrote: "Both CRTs assisted marine mammal medics from the BDLMR (British Divers Marine Life Rescue) in working tirelessly throughout the evening and into the early hours in attempts to save this mammal.
"But after constant welfare observations and health checks carried out by the medics and veterinary specialists who had also arrived on scene, the decision was made to proceed with euthanasia in the best interests of the mammal to prevent any further stress or suffering due to a positive outcome being no longer possible."
The spokesman added: "The whale was then carried off the beach to the awaiting vehicles of the BDLMR for transportation. Both CRTs standing down and returning to their stations to make ready for any future taskings."
They went on: "Pygmy sperm whales are rarely seen in the UK with only a few strandings ever recorded. Although they are small compared to true sperm whales, their deep-water habitat makes them one of the most rarely observed cetaceans."
BDMLR said it was a female cetacean and 1.7m long. A spokesman said: "The animal was assessed on scene by BDMLR Medics, who provided welfare support keeping the animal upright and hydrated, while two vets were en route.
"Careful ID assessment confirmed the animal to be a pygmy sperm whale, a rarely recorded species typically only seen in deep waters in temperate to tropical seas. There are less than 20 records of this species in the UK.
They added: "Unfortunately the young animal had significant injuries across the head, body, fins and tail stock consistent with live stranding on to a sharp reef bed, as well as possible rake mark injuries from another marine animal. Her size indicated she was potentially still a maternally dependent calf, or recently weaned, but evidently not doing well on her own."
To date, no Pygmy sperm whales in the UK and Ireland have been known to be successfully refloated. In expert consultation from a marine mammal veterinary surgeon, based on the evidence of her health status "the decision was made that the kindest outcome was to euthanise the whale to stop further suffering."
A full necropsy will be carried out by the Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme and Marine Environmental Monitoring.
BDMLR thanked the members of the public who reported the stranding and vets from Bodrwnsiwn Veterinary Clinic..
* Yesterday, a dead porpoise was found on another Anglesey beach. The creature was discovered at Llanddwyn at 2.20pm by a member of the public.
They reported the finding to HM Coastguard. IT is understood it had been there for some time and was "badly degraded", said the coastguard.
A HM Coastguard spokesman said it how has a duty to pass the information on to the Receiver of Wreck and the Natural History Museum.
The death was not suspicious. The body has been left in place with tape around it to indicate it has been reported to the authorities. It may be taken for an autopsy by the museum, added the HM Coastguard spokesman.