2010-01-29
The UK Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA) has warned that anyone caught trying to remove teeth from the 10m long sperm whale which stranded and died near Beadnell, Northumberland on Monday 24th will face prosecution.
According to the MCA, two men have already been spotted attempting to take teeth from the dead whale and the Agency is now guarding the animal while arrangements are made to remove it from the beach.
Trade in whale products is dealt with by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and trade across international boundaries is strictly illegal. WDCS also notes that there is a significant disease risk associated with dead bodies and calls on people to report them to the appropriate authorities but not to touch them. Further information about stranded whales and dolphins can be found here;
http://www.wdcs.org/stop/strandings/story_details.php?select=93
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