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Porpoise's skull found on river bank
A KEEN photographer was left mystified after stumbling across what looked like a dolphin's skull on the banks of the Ouse.
Sean Stewart, of Chiltern Road, Goole, and his friend Bob Wakefield were walking along the riverside near Blacktoft when they spotted the skull in washed up reed stalks some 30 miles from the North Sea.
After showing a photograph of the skull to experts it has transpired that it probably belongs to a Harbour Porpoise, a mammal which can grow up to two metres long, according to curator at The Deep, Katy Rigby.
"Harbour porpoise, which look almost identical to dolphins and are accustomed to cool waters, swim up the Humber in spring in search of fish," Ms Rigby said.
She explained that as a species they live close to coastal areas and ports and often venture up rivers, sometimes hundreds of miles from the sea.
"The skull looks pretty old so I'm guessing it certainly wasn't a recent demise," Ms Rigby added.
Mr Stewart said: "I just thought it was quite an unusual find.
"I saw a porpoise years and years ago near Goole docks and I know people have seen them around here. Perhaps this one had got lost or was looking for food."
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Weather for Goole
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
