Beached Sperm Whale Dies on Florida Gulf Coast

Storyful
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Officials confirmed a beached sperm whale off the coast of Venice, Florida, died in the early hours of Monday, March 11.

Florida resident Ron Robbins Jr recorded this footage of the endangered sperm whale as it was still alive on Sunday, March 10. Robbins told Storyful the spectacle was “just kind of sad.”

According to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, local scientists and law enforcement marine units attempted to treat the whale, but high winds and surf prevented them from approaching the large animal, which was estimated to be about 50 feet long and 50,000 to 70,000 pounds.

Laura Ingleby, chief of NOAA’s Marine Mammal branch, told WGCU that while the death of the whale is hard, they are using the opportunity to understand why it was beached, and learn more about the species. Credit: Ron Robbins Jr. via Storyful