Millport environmental experts were called to rescue a baby porpoise after it washed up injured on the shore, however sadly they were unable to help it.

The Field Studies Council responded to a call that a baby blue whale had become stranded on the coastline, however when attending the incident found a porpoise calf with multiple injuries.

The mammal had lacerations to its body and tail which suggested that it had become tangled up in fishing gear or moorings.

The team assessed its injuries, supporting its head and keeping it under the water, and felt the wounds were superficial.

However, despite their efforts to help it return to the ocean under its own power, its failure to swim resulted on it washing back on to the shore.

It is believed that the mammal was a young age and still weaning however seemed to be skinny and emaciated.

The team’s marine mammal vet and stranding responders made the difficult decision for the youngling to be euthanised in an aim to minimise its suffering.

Due to its injury and condition it would be unlikely to be able to swim under water and with no mother to care for it, would likely drown at sea or re-strand further along the coastline.

FSC Centre Manager Alex Macfie said: "It's difficult to say if it was fishing gear, mooring lines or just some rope or trash.

"However, making sure all fishing gear is collected from the ocean, whether it's yours or not, will reduce the entanglement risk, and fisherman can use pingers, acoustic deterrents, to keep mammals away from static gear such as creel pots

"No fishing gear was observed around or near the animal, so we can’t say for certain but what we can say is that some sort of rope or line was caught around its tail for a significant time to cause the injuries observed."

The centre advises that if you find a stranded mammal that you do not attempt to drag the animal back in to the sea, instead it should be supported upright with its blowhole clear.

The animals should be kept cool and calm with wet clothing or sheets however the incident should be reported right away.

British Divers Marine Life Rescue should be contacted if the mammal is alive on 01825 765546 or the SSPCA on 0131 3390111.

If found dead Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme should be contacted on 07979 245893.