A WHALE has died after being washed up on the rocky shoreline near Culross.

Rescue teams were called at around 10pm on Tuesday, July 25, to reports of what were thought to be two harbour porpoises stranded.

At 11pm is was confirmed that they were actually two northern bottlenose whales.

Both were lying in the sand and gravel substrate.

One of the animals was not moving and was originally thought to have died, though was later discovered to be alive, and the other was "quite active".

British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) said that the animals are deep diving species which were far outside of their normal habitat.

Dunfermline Press: BDMLR staff have been on the scene since last night (Tuesday). BDMLR staff have been on the scene since last night (Tuesday). (Image: Andrew Milligan/PA)

A spokesperson added that the whales' health was likely to be compromised already based on previous experience of them at strandings.

Two sets of specialist rescue equipment were brought to the area just in case any rescue may have been possible, but after discussions with the Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme, some complications were found and it was also deemed dangerous to get the animals in the dark on an incoming tide.

Coastguard teams supported BDMLR Medics throughout the night as they monitored the whales.

At 6am on Wednesday one whale was confirmed deceased.

At the time of writing the other whale was being monitored and was supporting itself in the water, with rescuers awaiting further veterinary advice.

The northern bottlenose whale is a species not often found in the North Sea, though three of the animals were sighted off the Moray Firth last week.

Adults can reach up to 10 metres and feed primarily on squid.

The South Queensferry Coastguard Rescue Team is supporting the response and remained at the scene overnight.

Dunfermline Press: The whales washed up on the rocky coastline near Culross. The whales washed up on the rocky coastline near Culross. (Image: David Wardle)

A spokesperson for the coastguard said: "South Queensferry Coastguard Rescue Team is supporting the response to two whales washed up on the coast near Culross, Fife, last night (Tuesday July, 25).

"The alarm was raised at about 11.35pm and British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) has been involved on the scene."

In 2021 a young minke whale that became separated from its mother was killed humanely on the beach at Dalgety Bay after a six-hour rescue mission ultimately failed.

And back in 2018 four whales died after being found stranded at Torryburn.

This week's stranding is the latest of several in the UK and comes 10 days after a pod of 55 whales beached in the Western Isles.