'Noise pollution is killing the whales'

Three of the mammals have been found washed up, including the 60-foot fin whale at St Brides.

A Sowerby's whale was found stranded in Llangranog, and was successfully returned to the sea on Monday.

Another Sowerby's whale was discovered dead in Pembrokeshire.

Wildlife experts believe man's intensive use of the sea could be killing the whales.

Douglas Herdson, information officer at the National Aquarium, Plymouth, said noise pollution was to blame for whales losing their way.

He said: "The constant increase in noise disruption makes it difficult for whales to find their way through the sea.

"They can't register the strange noises.

"There has been evidence from different parts of the world where the whales have been killed as a result of the military using sonar exercises.

"The low frequency of the sonar damages their internal organs, which can kill or injure them."

He said climate change was probably not linked to the increase in the washed-up mammals, and said recent hurricanes played no part in the Welsh findings.

"I would be surprised if the climate change has anything to do with it, as it would provide more food which would encourage whales, but man's use of the sea has made it a noisy place for the whales."

A spokeswoman from the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society agreed noise pollution was to blame.

"There is some evidence to suggest that noise pollution caused by military sonars has caused whales to get stranded. This could be linked to the cases in South Wales, but we don't have evidence of that."

She added: "Noise pollution is an important and urgent threat to whales and dolphins."

The Newport whale was believed to have been ill for some time before it was discovered at St Brides.

Despite the wish of many that its skeleton might be preserved, the mammal was cut up and incinerated on "public health grounds" after thousands of people flocked to see it over three days last week.