A young basking shark was discovered caught in fishing net along Derrynane Long Beach in south-west Kerry.
The rare basking shark was found dead by locals Peter Sweeney, a photographer, and his friend Chris Gleeson on Sunday evening.
It is believed to have been an accidental “by-catch” by a fishing boat which died out at sea and was washed ashore where it was discovered.
The basking shark along with the great white shark are classed as vulnerable to extinction.
The event follows unusual events along the coast of Kerry where several bottlenose dolphins have died in Tralee Bay. A dead animal was also found floating off Fenit, while there was also another stranding off Camp.
The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) is appealing for any reports on stranded dolphins in the Kerry area, following the unusual sequence of marine mammal beachings over the last few days.
