Toothbrush discovered in stomach of rare whale found on Kerry beach

The whale washed up on Brandon Bay on November 28 prompting a post-mortem, which revealed the plastic item inside the adult female.

Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) experts and wildlife biology students from Munster Technological University took part in the post mortem of the whale after it washed up on the shore. Picture: IWDG

A whale which washed up on a Kerry beach in recent days was found to have a toothbrush inside its stomach, heightening concerns over the levels of plastic pollution off Ireland’s coast.

The rare true's beaked whale washed up on Brandon Bay on November 28, prompting a post-mortem which revealed the plastic item inside the adult female.