Whales in North Sea at risk of beaching

LONDON, Feb. 20 (UPI) -- Scientists say as many as 25 sperm whales may be in danger of stranding themselves on Britain's beaches.

The Times of London said a pod of juvenile male sperm whales is believed to have entered the North Sea, leading to four strandings in the past two weeks and increasing fears that manmade factors may be causing them to lose their way.

"There are only two ways they can get out -- via the North Coast of Scotland or south via the Channel," Rob Deaville, a marine biologist at the Zoological Society of London, told the newspaper.

The Natural History Museum says the number of whale, dolphin and porpoise strandings in Britain has more than doubled over the past decade, from 360 in 1994 to 782 in 2004.

Conservationists say the "industrialization" of the sea and the use of sonar equipment damages the whales' communication and navigational systems, the newspaper said.