Pygmy sperm whale dies after stranding on Pensacola Beach, Florida

Aug 31, 2012

Written b Rhema Thompson

About 20 beachgoers tried to help out a pygmy sperm whale that washed ashore at Pensacola Beach this morning.

Unfortunately the whale died as it was being transported to a Navarre veterinary clinic for tests and treatment.

A small whale has washed ashore on Pensacola Beach. / Tony Giberson/[email protected]

The whale was first spotted in shallow water around 9 a.m. near Avenida 23 on Penacola Beach.

Members of the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge based out of Fort Walton Beach were on the scene along with Pensacola Beach lifeguards trying to help the struggling whale.

After about two hours ashore, the whale was transported to the office of Dr. Natalie Dyson at St. Francis Veterinarian Center in Navarre. It was dead on arrival, the Center said.

Dyson will conduct a necropsy on the whale to try and determine the cause of death Saturday at the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge in Fort Walton Beach.

pnj.com

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