Whale euthanized after beaching on Hilton Head Island
FILE - A beached juvenile sperm whale was euthanized over the weekend after it was determined it was too emaciated to survive. (Credit: Town of Hilton Head Island Government)
A sperm whale that beached itself on a South Carolina beach was euthanized on Sunday.
Veterinarians determined the animal was too sick to be helped.
FILE - Photo of a beached whale on Hilton Head Island. (Credit: Town of Hilton Head Island Government)
What happened?
Dig deeper:
The whale, which weighed about 20 tons, washed ashore near the Marriott Grand Ocean Resort on Hilton Head Island on Saturday afternoon, officials said.
Veterinarians said the whale was a juvenile and was too emaciated to survive even if they were to attempt a rescue.
Special equipment was brought from the University of Florida to humanely sedate and then kill the animal.
The 31-foot whale will be buried on the beach, according to officials of Hilton Head Island.
What's next:
A necropsy will be performed on the whale to help scientists learn what caused the whale to die and to "better understand the challenges marine mammals face."
Why whales beach themselves
Whales often beach themselves when sick or injured, according to the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida, which estimates about 2,000 whales come ashore each year. Most beachings result in the animal's death.
The Source: Information for this article was gathered from a Town of Hilton Head Island Government Facebook post, the Fish and Wildlife Foundation of Florida and The Associated Press. This story was reported from Los Angeles.