Trans. Suffolk Nat. Soc. 38 (2002)

Suffolk Natural History, Vol. 38 86

Harbour Porpoise found on beach On 26 July 2001 I was alerted to a dead harbour porpoise which was stranded on the beach below Gun Hill, Southwold (see Plate 2). It was about one metre long and had recently suffered a severe head wound on its right side. Some of the flesh had been stripped off the tail. There were also a number of long scars on its body, which had resulted from cuts in the past which had healed over.

Apparently several of these animals had been observed offshore by fishermen a day or two earlier. Due to its condition, the body was quickly removed by the local authority.

Peter Lawson 12 Park Lane Southwold Suffolk IP18 6HL

Pete

r W

allace

Plate 2: Harbour Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena L.) dead on the beach at Southwold 26 July 2001 (p. 86).