Hope fades for stranded whale in Danish fjord

Jun 17, 2010

Hope fades for stranded whale in Danish fjord (AP) — A fin whale is seen stranded in a shallow fjord on the western coast at Vejle on the western coast of Denmark Wednesday June 16, 2010. Officials say a fin whale is stranded in a shallow fjord on the western coast of Denmark and is fighting for its life. Marine biologist Carl Christian Kinze says the 50-foot (15-meter) whale is unable to move and could be stuck on its belly. It is not known if the animal is ill or disoriented. (AP Photo/Polfoto/Benny F. Nielsen)

(AP) -- A marine expert says he fears a fin whale stranded in a shallow fjord in western Denmark will soon die.

Biologist Anders Kofoed said Thursday that the 30-ton baleen whale was probably in a state of shock and added that "it would be best" if it dies soon.

The 50-foot (15-meter) whale was stranded Wednesday in the Vejle Fjord, 135 miles (220 kilometers) west of Copenhagen. It is believed to be about three to four years old.

On Wednesday, local firefighters hosed down the whale to protect its skin from the sun and sealed off the area around the huge mammal. Plans to drag the whale out to sea at high tide were abandoned because it would have harmed the animal too much.

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