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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Farnboro John" data-source="post: 1594578" data-attributes="member: 36432">A few moments with Google yielded the 2006 report on strandings in the UK.  Over 700 cetaceans in all, the majority being small animals such as porpoises.  Of those, a significant proportion (25% or more) had been beaten to death by Bottlenose Dolphins, so Douglas Adams was right when he wrote "never trust an animal that smiles all the time. Its up to something."In the SW a significant proportion also showed signs of being bycatch, Common Dolphins being particular sufferers.I remain of the view that the larger pelagic species wash up or are seen in coastal water mostly because they are already in trouble.  As such going to see them will always involve the knowledge that sooner or later they will pitch up dead (Humpbacks mostly seem to be an exception to this).It is at least possible that the greater number of reported dead Northern Bottlenose Whales reflects increased reporting in the media, increased observer numbers, or, if you would like a dash of optimism for a change, increased whale population numbers.There is no point getting maudlin about it. Animals don't.John</blockquote>