Usually not many people about, but this year the beach was packed. Sadly, a Sperm Whale had died and washed up on the beach on Christmas Eve and the word was out. Of course we walked down to the body to have a look. Its not until you see one so close up that you can truly appreciate the size of them and I guess, along with some of the other spectators I was awed and saddened.
The other saddening thing was how some people had treated this magnificent creature with a true lack of reverence. I can live with the curious young boys poking it with a stick or testing the feel of it with a boot, but who had lugged a saw down there to cut off a chunk of its bottom jaw, and who had taken the time to knock out its teeth?
I'm not sure whether the local wildlife people take them or whether they were taken with a view to selling them on ebay (though whether thats possible I'm not sure) but it looked awful.
And to top it all, my wife and I took our dog for a walk today and just down the road saw a large male Otter at the side of the road which had been killed by a car. Never seen a wild live one.
Sad end to the year.
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