Those of you that have registered to receive tweets, text’s or mails on the Norfolk Cetacean website will know that recently there has been a young female Minke washed ashore on the coast here in Norfolk this month. Her corpse was swept up the beach at Overstrand but immediately washed back out to sea. Several days later the tides eventually brought her to rest under the revetments in the parish of Paston further to the east.
I went to take some samples of the corpse last weekend for the Natural History Museum under direction from members of the CSIP (Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme)
It was heart-warming to see a steady progression of visitors walking out to see the little girl. No bystanders these. I’ve never been bombarded by so many questions; especially from the children. One young pair of budding biologists come to mind. It was good to see so much interest. All I hope, and I do genuinely wish for them, that one day they will see a whale swimming free in the ocean rather than lifeless on a beach, and it brings delight to them … as it has over the years for me.
Letter From Norfolk 