In an unprecedented event, the body of a female narwhal, a species typically found in Arctic waters, washed ashore on Sweet Nellies Beach in County Donegal, Ireland, last weekend. This marks the first recorded sighting of a narwhal in Irish waters and only the tenth recorded stranding of the species in western Europe. The discovery was made by a local family during a beach walk, prompting immediate attention from wildlife authorities. Niall Ó Donnchú of Ireland’s National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) described the event as ‘extraordinary and unprecedented.’ The narwhal, often referred to as the ‘unicorn of the sea’ due to its distinctive spiraled tusk, was transported to the Regional Veterinary Laboratory in Cork for a post-mortem examination. While male narwhals typically grow tusks, some females also exhibit this rare trait. Narwhals inhabit the Arctic Circle, migrating to coastal waters in summer and returning offshore in winter to avoid ice entrapment. With an estimated global population of 170,000, their natural predators include polar bears, orcas, and sharks. Dr. Simon Berrow of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) emphasized the significance of this stranding, noting that warming waters have caused a northward migration of marine species. ‘To have an Arctic species stranded for the first time is somewhat unexpected,’ he said. The incident underscores the importance of long-term monitoring and public involvement in reporting such events. Ireland’s Minister for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan, highlighted the broader implications, stating that the narwhal’s stranding serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of wildlife in the face of climate change. The post-mortem results, expected soon, may provide crucial insights into the narwhal’s life history and the reasons behind its unusual journey to Irish shores.