THE remains of a dead whale measuring ten metres will be left to decompose after consultation with experts.

Two-thirds of a carcass of a fin whale washed up at the RSPB Stour Estuary site in Wrabness early last week and has not been deemed a public health hazard.

Now after discussions with the Cetacean Standings Investigation Progamme who sent a manager to examine the animal it has been decided to leave the whale where it is to prevent damage to the local habitat.

The fin whale is the second largest mammal in the world after the blue whale and they can reach speeds of up to 30 miles per hour when swimming through the water.

It is believed the whale would have been hit by a vessel before washing up on the shore.

Site manager of the RSPB Stour Estuary site in Wrabness Rick Vonk said: “I don’t actually know what happened but we don’t know what it was doing to get hit.

“Presumably it was a container vessel and it died from that or it was dead already when it was struck.

“The remains were found early last week.

“This is only the second dead whale I have seen in my lifetime so it is very rare for the area.”

The whale was found on private land and is not in a position which is accessible to the public.