He said the mammal's extraordinary plight had evoked popular passion for conserving whales and that all the knowledge gained from the experience should be shared as widely as possible.
The British Divers Marine Life Rescue charity, which tried to save the whale, is auctioning online a watering can used to keep the whale moist to raise money for future rescues.
The price had reached 125,300 pounds (182,800 euros, $224,000) after 186 bids, with seven days remaining until the auction closes, while a slew of other whale memorabilia, some highly dubious, are also up for grabs.
Name: Northern Bottle-Nosed Whale (
Hyperoodon ampullatus)
Primary Classification: Cetacea (Whales)
Location: North Atlantic and Arctic oceans
Habitat: Deep coastal waters
Diet: Squid, fish and starfish
Size: Up to 33 ft in length and 8 tons in weight
Description: Dark gray in color; protruding beak; bulbous forehead, which is less pronounced in females; small, triangular dorsal fin; broad tail with no notches
Cool Facts: It dives deeper than almost any other whale, up to 1,000 meters (3,280 feet). It can remain under water for longer than any other whale, up to 70 minutes.
Conservation Status: Lower Risk (Conservation Dependent)
Major Threat(s): Hunting, habitat loss (to commercial shipping and fishing) and underwater noise from petrochemical exploration
What Can I Do?: Visit
The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society and
The Ocean Conservancy for information on how you can help.
