Whale will be buried

Marine Scotland normally investigate around two or three incidences of whale beachings a year.

Their findings are used to asses environmental stresses on whale populations.

They also examine other marine species to gauge wider issues affecting the seas off the British Isles.

Dumfries and Galloway Council said it was extremely unusual for a creature as large as this one to wash up on the shore in south-west Scotland.

The council are hoping to bury it above the high tide mark sometime later today or tomorrow in order to prevent its carcass from causing contamination along the beach.