Words by

Andie Sophia Fontaine

Photo by

Gabriel Barathieu/Wikimedia Commons

A 12-metre-long sperm whale washed up on the beaches of Dalvík yesterday morning, attracting a crowd of onlookers.

Dalvík resident Freyr Antonsson told reporters that the whale appears to be intact, and has not yet begun to rot. As it beached only about 200 metres from the town’s harbour, it drew attention quickly, prompting residents to alert the police and health authorities.

News of the beached whale spread quickly through the community, drawing more onlookers. With so many witnesses on the scene, and the whale itself being so closed to a populated area, the chances of it being poached for ivory are decidedly low.