An extremely rare sighting of what’s believed to be a juvenile whale in Lough Swilly has sparked concern.
People are being urged not to approach the mammal, which was later seen stranded on the Buncrana shoreline.
Wild Ireland founder and conservationist Killian McLaughlin came across the whale in the water earlier today.
He said its unusual presence so far inside the lough immediately raised alarm bells.
The young animal, believed to be a juvenile minke whale, was first seen near Macamish Fort before later making its way towards Buncrana.
It is believed the whale has since moved away, but there is a grim chance it could strand again.
Minke whales are normally seen much further offshore.
“It is extremely rare for a whale to be in Lough Swilly, so obviously something is wrong,” Killian told Donegal Daily.
“We didn’t know if it was a dolphin at first because it’s only a baby. We turned off the engine and kept a respectful distance from it. You could see there were cuts on its tail.
“Then, when we got closer, we realised it was a whale.
“It took off, and that was the last we saw of it.
“The next thing we heard was that it had stranded in Buncrana.”
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Killian believes the animal may have been injured and become separated from its mother.
He has urged members of the public to stay back from the whale and avoid causing it any further distress.
“They’re mammals, so they breathe air like us. I would imagine drowning is as horrific a prospect for a whale as it would be for a human.
“When they start to lose their energy and are unable to swim and keep themselves above water, they come in and strand themselves because they don’t want to drown. They haul themselves up on the beach where they can breathe.
“People in the water with it cause it undue stress.
“Generally, they come ashore when they’re too sick to stay in the ocean. That’s what happens and they generally die.”
Killian said the animal is most likely a juvenile minke whale, although he stressed that he could not be completely certain.
“All the baleen whales look quite alike and they’re all very closely related,” he said.
“A minke whale is the smallest cousin of the blue whale, which is the largest animal that has ever lived, bigger than all the dinosaurs.”
He said the behaviour of the young whale was another indication that something was wrong.
“Minke whales are common enough around the coast of Donegal, but they would be way out off Malin, beyond Inishtrahull and towards the continental shelf.
“They’re extremely skittish as well. Normally, when you see them, they disappear.
“When I saw that whale and it was allowing me to get so close, I knew as well that something was wrong.”
Killian has reported the sighting to the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group and has also circulated advice among local boat users in Lough Swilly.
With a spring tide tonight, Killian said the whale could be seen again as water levels change.
Anyone who encounters a live stranded whale or dolphin is advised to immediately call the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group live stranding hotline on 097 28118.
Members of the public should not attempt to refloat or push the animal back into the sea. Trained professionals should be contacted for assistance.