Public asked to report any whale carcasses found on local beaches
Anyone who come across any carcasses of whales on local beaches have been asked to get in touch with Highland Council.
Officials believe carcasses could have been washed out to sea following the mass stranding of pilot whales in north west Sutherland last Friday.
Golspie based environmental health officer Andy Hurst said: "It’s possible that other carcasses have been washed out to sea and may end up on other beaches in the area over the next week.
"If the public do spot any whale carcasses, please get in touch with me at our Golspie office." (01408 635323)
More than 60 whales got into difficulties on Friday after swimming into the Kyle of Durness and getting caught in the low tide.
Following a "heroic" rescue mission by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, and volunteers, a number were guided out into the sea.
However, an estimated 36 were stranded on sandbanks and it is believed that as many as 20 perished.
Highland Council arranged the disposal of 16 whale carcasses on Monday, burying them at a remote location at the south end of the Kyle.
A spokesman for the local authority said: "The site was identified in consultation with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and the landowner.
"The burials took place on Monday after government vets carried out post mortems on many of the whales to establish their condition and to identify any possible causes for the strandings."
Alan Yates, acting head of environmental health, said: "We are grateful for the assistance of local people in Durness throughout this incident. Great work was done on saving the majority of the pod.
"Arranging disposal of any dead whale can be problematic so I am very pleased that we have managed to arrange the quick disposal of such a large number of pilot whales."