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The whale against the pier wall this afternoon. Ger Murphy via Mexicanger

VIDEO: Young fin whale still stuck in west Cork harbour

Experts say the beached whale may be in the final throes as it lies in Baltimore Harbour.

A 40-FOOT whale is still trapped at Baltimore harbour in West Cork.

Pádraig Whooley of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group said that they had ”no expectations” that the whale would have moved during today’s high tide.

Once these animals get into these situations, they almost always die.

The fin whale “looks likes it is in the final throes”, added Whooley, who ventured the whale may die overnight. Huge crowds have been gathering to watch the whale at the harbour today.

Moorings

Earlier today, the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group’s Simon Berrow told TheJournal.ie that an expert and active member of the organisation was trying to purge the creature away from the moorings.

From initial descriptions, Berrow said the whale is probably young as it is “quite small”.

Although he could not predict the outcome, he explained that previously beached whales have been sick and emaciated and have often died.

Michael Cottrell who has been leading today’s operation is trying to keep people away from the whale to ensure it doesn’t become more distressed or disturbed. It is understood that the whale was bleeding from its side.

The National Parks & Wildlife Service has been informed about the ongoing situation.

Credit: Stuart Musgrave

Image: Stu Musgrave

Pic from Shauna Kiely.

Image: Stuart Musgrave

Additional reporting Aoife Barry

In photos: dead whale found in Australian pool>

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31 Comments
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    Mute Susie Chester
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    Apr 8th 2012, 10:09 PM

    I would really like to know the history of this of flu … when did it start ? with whom? why were thr HSE not notified sooner?

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    Mute Stadler Waldorf
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    Apr 8th 2012, 10:43 PM

    Last time I checked, flu wasn’t a notifiable disease…

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    Mute Susie Chester
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    Apr 9th 2012, 12:27 AM

    Maybe so Stadler W, but when five people die in six days IN THE SAME LOCATION it doesnt take a rocket scientist to know there is something not quite right !

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    Mute Stadler Waldorf
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    Apr 9th 2012, 5:47 AM

    Hmmm, a respiratory illness that’s transmitted by air in a small building and a bunch of vulnerable people get it, and it happens to be a severe case. Yeah, get Jim Corr onto the case right away.

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    Mute Susie Chester
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    Apr 9th 2012, 11:51 AM

    Stadler Waldorf
    Are you mad ?
    What has Jim Corr got to do with it ?
    I never intimated that it is a conspiracy .
    I only asked why were the HSE not notified sooner ?

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