***Warning graphic images***

Graphic photos show a young male porpoise which has been sliced by a propeller, amid fears jet-skiers and speedboat enthusiasts are putting animals including dolphins at risk by 'bombing around' the water at speeds of 80mph.

The tragic discovery was made in Largs, North Ayrshire, close to an RNLI slipway used by jet skiers to launch from.

A picture showing the wounds in the porpoise that was killed by a speed boat. Picture: SWNS

Concerns have been raised about speedboats circulating in Chanonry Point, on the Black Isle, which is a haven for dolphins, in the wake of the lockdown being eased.

David Nairn, who runs the Clyde Porpoise group, said: "The speedboat propeller had clearly sliced through the porpoise.

"Two witnesses saw the boat hit the animal the day before.

"There were a couple of speedboats and jet skis all playing off the RNLI slip.

"They are morons on these jet bikes who are disturbing all the calves from the parent porpoises.

"I believe the police were called down to separate them when they arrived as there were more than eight of them.

"The jet skiers and boats were zooming around, harassing the porpoises and they are regularly ripping around the Isle of Cumbrae.

"It is a crying shame as this was a young adult male porpoise of medium length and otherwise had been in very good health."

He added: "We want to keep the marine wildlife, including our only solitary dolphin, Kylie. The fear is it is only a matter of time before we lose her if this reckless activity continues.

"We have a decision to make.

"We either hold on to the beautiful natural environment that we hold dear or we let neds on jet-skis and speedboats destroy it.

"They are skipping about the surface and it separates the mothers from the calves.

"It is calving season and if the youngsters won't survive without the mother's milk so doubtlessly we will find more dead porpoises along the shoreline if this kind of thing continues.

"They are bombing about the Clyde with no care for the local marine wildlife.

"We have got evidence that the Cumbraes area is a persistent hotspot for these beautiful animals and it doesn't weigh up that we are allowing boats going at 60, 70 and 80mph in that kind of area.

"We are neglecting our duty of care to look after a protected species."

Founder of campaign group Blue Planet Society, John Hourston, 54, said: "People have just seemed to have got out and about after being captive for three months.

"They've thought 'sod it', there's been a really selfish streak.

"It seems to be worse this year because people feel they've been locked up for three months.

"I have never seen a porpoise which has been hit that badly by a propellor before.

"Marine management organisations need to look at this in terms of regulation, possibly making propellor guards mandatory.

"At somewhere like Chanonry Point there should be local laws.

"There needs to be better regulation.

"Marine animals had three months of peace and quiet and now they have people bombing around harassing them on speedboats."

Shocking photos show a porpoise which was killed by a speedboat in Scottish waters