A SPERM whale which was entangled in ropes off Skye last week has died after becoming stranded on a shore off the nearby island of Raasay.
The animal was spotted in difficulty off nearby Skye on Thursday, and British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) managed to cut five ropes form the animal on Saturday – although some remained around its head.
It was discovered on Monday on the shoreline near Oskaig, on Raasay's west coast.
They can dive to two miles (3km) underwater to hunt squid.
Highland Council has responsibility for disposing of the Raasay carcass.
A spokesperson said: "Our environmental health officers are liaising with the Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (Smass) team over the incident.
"The council has a duty to dispose of carcasses resulting from whale strandings and will make preparations once the full extent and size of the whale is established.
"A range of disposal options will be considered."
The stranding follows other recent incidents involving entangled whales.
In February, two fisherman rescued a humpback whale found entangled in creel fishing gear off the coast of Skye.
The creel fishermen had been working further south when they received a report of the entangled whale.
A single rope had become anchored around the tail of the humpback.
The animal was spotted in difficulty at Organic Sea Harvest's Invertote site near Staffin in the north of the island.
BDMLR said the rope was wrapped around the whale's head and left fin.
These entanglements can involve creel fishing gear or ghost gear – rope and nets that have been lost or abandoned by fishing boats.
