Rotting whale's carcase may have to be blown up

Published on 06/03/2006 00:46

THE rotting carcase of a 48ft sperm whale stranded in the Hebrides may have to be blown up with explosives, environmental officers said yesterday.

Western Isles Council has been looking for a lorry to transport the whale's body from rocks at Scarista, on Harris.

But they say it may have to be blown up, as it is wedged in a cleft and is proving difficult to drag out. Its location might make it too hazardous to use a crane and a lorry.

The whole exercise involving heavy machinery and a dozen men could cost the council more than 5,000.

Experts are due to fly to Harris to carry out a post-mortem examination of the body, which has been leaking blood and gas, to find out how it died.

The local authority's environmental chairman, Angus Nicolson, said: "It is the council's responsibility to dispose of the carcase. We may have to blow it up if it is physically impossible to get close in to lift it."

He said the remains would be taken to a landfill site at Bennadrove, near Stornoway.