Dear all, The Spanish Cetacean Society (SEC) reports that 3 Ziphius cavirostris just stranded in the SE coast of Spain (in the Gulf of Vera). Local police called the local stranding network of Almería PROMAR last night (26-01-2006) at 19:00 informing about 2 beaked whales stranded in the coast of Mojacar (more or less in the middle of the Gulf of Vera). The animals were alive and died during the night. This morning a third animal was found besides the port of Garrucha, already dead, only around 5 km far from the other two. The group of Antonio Fernández of the Department of Pathology at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canarias was informed, and a team moved to Almería this morning. They are exploring the animals at this moment. When more information is available, it will be communicated to the scientific community. If you have any inquiries about the event, you can contact the Spanish Cetacean Society (alnitak.ana@cetaceos.com). Any inquiries about the pathological examinations, please contact Antonio Fernández from the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (afernandez@dmor.ulpgc.es). Ana Cañadas alnitak.ana@cetaceos.com SEC - Spanish Cetacean Society Nalón 16 28240 Hoyo de Manzanares Madrid. Spain.