A BABY whale stranded on a beach is feared to be hours from death after being abandoned by its mum.
The calf, 6.2m (20ft) in length, was spotted thrashing in the shallows at Pentewan Sands, near Mevagissey in Cornwall, at 7am yesterday.
Its discovery sparked a major rescue response, with 15 British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) medics, including two vets, racing to the scene.
They confirmed the fin whale was a newborn female in a “poor nutritional condition”.
A BDMLR spokesperson said teams immediately began checks and first aid but revealed the outlook is bleak.
They said: “The calf is in poor nutritional condition, displaying an elevated respiratory rate, with no sign of any accompanying adult whales.
“This strongly indicates maternal separation, a situation in which survival is not possible for such a young animal.
“A calf of this age is completely dependent on the mother for frequent feeding and cannot survive independently at sea.”
Rescuers now fear they may have to put the suffering youngster down.
The spokesperson added there is a “very strong possibility” the whale will be euthanised.
They said: “With the whale’s compromised condition and its inability to thrive without its mother, the BDMLR team and attending veterinary professionals have been carefully considering euthanasia options to stop further suffering.
“The priority on scene is to manage the calf’s welfare, ensure public safety and minimise any further distress to the animal.
“Leaving the whale on the beach is not compatible with survival, and without veterinary intervention the calf would face a prolonged and inevitable death from starvation and physiological collapse.”
