Two whales have died after becoming stranded on a Fife beach.
Rescuers were called to reports of the beached animals at Torry Bay beach near Low Valleyfield at about 10pm on Tuesday.
Coastguard and British Divers Marine Life Rescue teams worked overnight to help refloat the northern bottlenose whales.
But it has now been confirmed that they both died on Wednesday.
It is believed the mammals – one male and one female – were juveniles.
Coastguard supported whale rescue team in Fife
A spokesperson for the coastguard said on Wednesday morning: “We were called out to Torry Bay Nature Reserve to help with live stranded whales at 11.35pm on Tuesday.
“We are still there at the moment.
“We are supporting the British Divers Marine Life Rescue team in a support role, for their safety.”
Whales recovered
The mammals were recovered by the Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (SMASS) on Thursday morning.
They were moved round the coast from Torry Bay and taken out at Burntisland shortly after 9am.
Marine experts were pictured examining one of the wales, before transferring its remains into the back of a van.
The northern bottlenose whale is a species not often found in the North Sea, however three animals were sighted off the Moray Firth last week.
Adults can reach up to 10m in length and feed primarily on squid.
It comes after 55 pilot whales were stranded on a beach near Stornoway earlier this month.
All-but-one of the mammals died amidst tragic scenes at Traigh Mhor on Lewis, despite the best efforts of rescuers.
It is the largest marine stranding in Scotland for the last 10 years.
