Don't save the whale; BEACHED ANIMALS TO BE PUT DOWN IN UK.

Byline: BY MIKE SWAIN SCIENCE EDITOR

WHALES that beach on our shores will be put down to prevent them suffering lingering painful deaths.

Animal experts yesterday said the creatures are usually already in terrible agony and too sick to survive. And no rescue attempt has so far succeeded.

It means there will never be a repeat of the dramatic bid to save the whale that drifted up the Thames in 2006.

Dr Paul Jepson, from the Zoological Society of London, said by the time the mammals reach our shores or estuaries they are severely dehydrated with crippling muscle damage that leads to kidney failure.

He added: "It's a very, very convincing picture to make us think now is the time to say we need to euthanise these animals. In deep sea whales, this process of muscle damage leading to kidney failure happens too quickly to seriously think of trying to rescue these animals."

The RSPCA said rescue teams were often under enormous "emotional pressure" to save stranded whales.

But the charity's Adam Grogan said: "It's only fair we tell everybody it is very unlikely we will be rescuing in future."

Now, vets will make a quick assessment of stranded whales and they will only be saved if they can be taken to the deep seas within an hour. Experts said that is "highly unlikely" anywhere in the UK.

The policy, agreed by the Marine Animal Rescue Coalition, will not apply to beached dolphins or porpoises as they suffer less damage in shallow water.

Of the 54 recorded beachings of deep sea whales between 2002 and 2006, every rescue attempt failed.

The creatures get water from eating squid and when they cannot find the food they quickly become dehydrated.