![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/SEI_264518431-edc3.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe huge carcass of a mystery animal washed up yesterday \u2013 now we know what it is (Picture: Clayton Boswell\/Media Wales)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tThe huge carcass of a mystery animal washed up yesterday \u2013 now we know what it is (Picture: Clayton Boswell\/Media Wales)<\/p>\n
A huge aquatic animal has washed up on a beach in Wales prompting a flurry of speculation but Metro has uncovered the nature of the beast.<\/p>\n
The carcass appeared on Cefn Sidan Beach in Pembrey, Carmarthenshire, a village in Wales<\/a>, yesterday morning much to the alarm of people near and far.\u00a0<\/p>\n Visitors and people on social media<\/a> have speculated what mystery creature could be \u2013 many have suggested that it is a whale \u2013 but others disagree.<\/p>\n A Facebook<\/a> commenter theorised that it could be a basking shark<\/a> and another joked they saw \u2018wings\u2019 and a \u2018scaly head\u2019 that could only befit a Welsh dragon.<\/p>\n This is by no means the first incident of bizarre animal life washing up on UK shores. Just two days ago, a \u2018very rare\u2019 pygmy sperm whale was found dead on a beach in Bigbury on Sea, Devon<\/a>, the BBC<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tSign up for all of the latest stories\t\t\t<\/p>\n Start your day informed with Metro’s News Updates<\/a> newsletter or get Breaking News<\/a> alerts the moment it happens. <\/p>\n Matthew Westfield, Marine Environmental Monitoring strandings co-ordinator in Wales, however, was able to shed some light on what the behemoth is.<\/p>\n \t\t Matthew, who has been at the scene this week, told Metro: \u2018From a species point of view it is standout \u2013 it is very rare to get a fin whale and any opportunity to see it on the Welsh coast is of benefit.<\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s tough work<\/a> if you imagine the animal weighs 50 tonnes and the lower jaw alone is five metres in length \u2013 it\u2019s hard going work.\u2019<\/p>\n The 50-year-old said the fin whale, the second largest of its kind behind only the blue whale, was just over 21 metres long. \u00a0<\/p>\n The carcass is expected to be sent for further testing at London<\/a> Zoo, then around the world for genetic and pollutant exams, Mr Westfield said.<\/p>\n A parked car can be seen next to the lifeless animal which appears to be around four times its size.<\/p>\n Part of the ribcage has become visible after the creature \u2018badly decomposed\u2019, Mr Westfield said, owing to it being dead for a long time. \u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t Visitors at Cefn Sidan, an eight-mile-long sandy beach, were shocked at the sight of the colossal animal at the popular summer<\/a> tourist attraction.<\/p>\n Matthew said his organisation has seen four fin whales turn up on the Welsh coast since 2000 \u2013 the last one that year in the River Dee.<\/p>\n \u2018They\u2019re quite rare, they do pass Cornwall and the west coast of Ireland and Scotland<\/a> but it\u2019s very rare we get them in the Irish Sea.\u2019<\/p>\n The whale is thought to be female, Mr Westfield said, but due to the severe state of decomposition he said there was no way of knowing for sure.<\/p>\n He observed strong evidence that other sea creatures such as sharks had been feeding on it, but was unable to establish a cause of death, despite the presence of microplastics in the animal.<\/p>\n Sue Burton, Pembrokeshire Marine Special Area of Conservation officer, added: \u2018If suitable for study, then the UK<\/a> Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme will be able to follow up and tell us more.\u2019<\/p>\n Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/p>\n For more stories like this, check our news page<\/a>.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"An](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/SEI_264518425-4278.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe animal carcass washed up on Cefn Sidan beach in Wales (Picture: Clayton Boswell\/Media Wales)<\/p>\n![\"An](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/SEI_264518414-c3f3-e1756987805586.jpg\")
\n\t\tA marine expert said the \u2018extraordinarily large\u2019 animal was \u2018definitely a whale\u2019 (Picture: Clayton Boswell\/Media Wales)<\/p>\n
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