Rescued whale washed up on Armona

The sperm whale that on New Year’s Day ran aground on Monte Gordo beach, today washed up dead on the Ria Formosa island of Armona.

The Olhão Port Captain, Nunes Ferreira, was convinced the dead whale was the same one that earlier had been spotted in difficulties in shallow water at Monte Gordo.

The whale was found today by fishermen and the dead animal was pulled into Olhão’s harbour where it was lifted ashore and taken to a landfill site for cremation.

The whale first was spotted early yesterday morning at Monte Gordo and members of the public waded into the water to help push the mammal back out to sea.