A dedicated marine mammal expert from a Keighley-based international veterinary group played a critical role in the crusade to save Wally the whale.

Doctor David Taylor, 71, a partner in the International Zoo Veterinary Group, founded in 1976, was immediately called to London to assist and advise in the bid to save the 18ft northern bottle-nosed whale.

Based not far from London in Berkhamsted, Dr Taylor was able to travel down on behalf of the group to the scene of activity and offer his expert advice on how to deal with the whale.

Dr Taylor said: "It's such a rare event, but it happens. Right from the beginning I was quite pessimistic, but you have to do things.

"You can't just say it's not likely to work. I am always sad when these wonderful creatures die. I spent the whole day running up and down the banks of the Thames giving advice on therapy, anti-shock and anti-stress information and the correct amount of drugs and dosages needed."

The whale was first discovered swimming down the Thames last Friday, and by Saturday its movements were becoming slower and its state deteriorating. As rescuers attempted to transport it on a barge towards deeper water the whale died.

Dr Taylor said: "The whale probably wasn't right. The common thing that I have found is that the echo-location navigation mechanism, which allows the whale to navigate across deep waters, has parasites inside and clogs up the inner ear.

"The whale is then blind to the sound. Other diseases can also make the animal feel unwell and then it starts to wander off and it doesn't know where home is."

Dr Taylor (pictured) originally from Rochdale, qualified as a vet in 1957 and has been working with zoo animals since 1959. He went into partnership with Andrew Greenwood from Oxenhope in 1969 and together they set up the International Zoo Veterinary Group.

The group set up its central offices in Keighley, on South Street, and has grown to employ six full-time zoo vets based across the country.

The group works in all parts of the world on projects concerned with the maintenance of wild, rare and endangered species of animals in zoos, parks and marinelands. Dr Taylor and Andrew Greenwood are both recognised as specialists in zoo and wild animal medicine by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.

Penny Cusdin, Research Assistant at the Zoo Veterinary Group, said: "We were pleased that David was on hand to offer his advice and experience to the team involved in the whale rescue this weekend. With over 30 years experience in treatment and care of marine mammals, David is probably the most knowledgeable person in the UK on the subject."

She added: "Although not unexpected, we were sorry the whale did not survive its ordeal.

"However, the team's work was not in vain, valuable techniques will have been learnt that could help another whale in this situation."