Science officer Sarah Dolman, of the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, said first indications were the 45-50ft adult male was ailing.

"It is quite emaciated, which means it has not been feeding," she said. "It is very skinny and has probably been sick for a while.

"This is a deep water species — it certainly should not be inside the Moray Firth."

A second adult sperm whale became stranded at low tide on the south side of the firth near Castle Stuart but floated out again when the tide came in. It was last seen moving out of the firth towards the deeper waters of the North Sea.

Yesterday, the University of Aberdeen, which monitors marine mammals from the Cromarty Lighthouse Field Station, and experts from the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, were keeping an eye on the mammal.

Aerial photographs were also ordered yesterday to find out whether it was now alone.

Sperm whales, which can measure up to 20.5 metres (65ft) in length, are social animals and sometimes strand in groups.

"It is not looking good for this particular animal," Ms Dolman continued.

"What we don't want is other healthy animals to strand because of this."

Inverness coastguard manager Mike Armitage said his team were also monitoring the whale because of the risk posed to small craft if it dies at sea and remains afloat.

The sperm whale is the largest living toothed whale. It feeds on squid and fish and can dive to depths of 2200 metres making it the deepest diving mammal in the world.

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