Rotting whale removed from popular Danish beach

A rotting fin whale has been removed from Tornby Strand near Hirtshals after its stench began disturbing beachgoers, the Danish Environmental Protection Agency said.

The whale, first spotted off the North Jutland coast on 29 June, had initially caused no disruption. But recent winds blew the carcass onto a busy bathing area, where its decomposition created a significant nuisance, according to agency office head Jane Hansen.

Crews removed the whale on Wednesday morning and transported it for incineration. Before removal, muscle and bone samples were taken to confirm the species, as the carcass was too decomposed for visual identification.

No necropsy is planned. Authorities had initially intended to let the whale decompose naturally, but its relocation to a populated area prompted the change in approach.