Security personnel will be employed to keep large crowds away from the juvenile male fin whale that beached itself near Bridlington’s South Beach, on Tuesday.
Unless the tides take it out back to sea, the whale, measuring 17.6 metres (almost 58 ft), will stay in on the beach. An operation to remove the mammal and carry out a zoological autopsy will take place in the next few days.
Andy Height, of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “We understand the public’s interest, but we also want the public to be respectful of the situation, so we are going to have to cordon off large parts of the beach and put security on tonight.”
Mr Height noted: “We are trying to get the whale off the beach in one piece, so we’re looking at [using] a sledge – rolling over the animal onto a sledge and then potentially dragging the sledge off the beach and then craning the whale onto a low loader.
“It’s easier said than done. We are trying to get this done before the weekend but we have to work with the tides.”
Witnesses have described ‘disgraceful’ scenes over the last few days, with one man swimming up the whale when the tide came in and clambering over it.
One resident who spoke to the Echo, described the behaviour of a minority of people as ‘sickening’.
The lady, who lives in Bridlington, described how one family treated the dead whale as a ‘climbing frame’ and how another person had poured a can of fizzy drink over the mammal.
Coastguards, Foreshores staff and volunteers from BDMLR rescue group were also subject to abuse and foul language from some members of the public after asking people to keep off the fin whale.
Em Mayman from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue group (BDMLR), gave out a warning for those who intend to view the deceased whale.
“We ask people to keep a respectful distance and to not touch.
“We don’t know what disease it could potentially carry, and what risk to the public it could present.
“Our team wore full PPE when around the animal, so we urge anyone going to see it doesn’t touch it. It is an animal that has died, and show a little respect – not climb on or deface it.
“At the moment the exact cause of death is unknown, however whales of this size washing ashore are most often in the end throes of life.”
