The second whale stranded on a beach in Finistère was being evacuated on Monday while that of the island of Sein had still not moved, said the prefecture, while the causes of their death remain unknown.
Teams from the Iroise Marine Nature Park were taking scientific samples on Monday "
before the body of the animal is cut up to be evacuated by land to a rendering center
," the prefecture said in a statement.
Read alsoFinistère: the 20-meter beached whale is a fin whale
The carcass of the whale, stranded on Kermabec beach in Tréguennec since Saturday, measures 17 meters and shows "
significant weight loss
", according to the same source.
Another whale, 19 meters and 25 tons, was stranded on September 2 on an islet difficult to access on the island of Sein.
It could not be towed or cut up on the spot and was still beached on Monday despite the high tides of the weekend.
The area off Finistère "
is well known for being frequented by whales
", explained to Philippe Le Niliot, deputy director in charge of engineering at the Iroise Marine Nature Park.
“
They stay there for a little while to feed, to replenish their reserves
,” he added.
"
It's normal for animals to die where they are
", developed the ecologist, recalling that four whales were stranded on the coast of Brittany in the summer of 2019.
These cetaceans can die in particular of collision with a ship, of diseases or by absorbing plastic waste or polluting products.
The possible presence of viruses will also be sought, such as avian flu "
which can be transmitted to marine mammals
", according to Philippe Le Niliot.
This virus is currently decimating entire colonies of seabirds, notably gannets.
"
It will take us several weeks to find out
" the causes of the death of these cetaceans, said Philippe Le Niliot.