The pygmy whale was alive when she was stranded, but her prognosis was poor and she had to be euthanized
By Veronica Flesher, Patch Staff, Wed, Aug 30, 2023 at 4:25 pm ET
LOVELADIES, NJ — A live pygmy sperm whale was discovered stranded on the beach at Seaview Drive in Loveladies on Aug. 29, the Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) said.
The whale, a 10-foot 9-inch long adult female weighing more than 800 pounds, was rescued by the MMSC with help from members of the Long Beach Township Beach Patrol.
The whale was rushed to the MMSC Center veterinarian.
“Upon examination, the whale was very lethargic and unresponsive, and had labored breathing,” the MMSC said. “After the medical assessment, it was determined that her prognosis was extremely poor, and she was unlikely to survive.”
The impact of stranding is traumatic on whales and dolphins as their body weight and organs are normally supported by the water surrounding them, according to the MMSC, but when they are stranded their own body weight causes crushing damage to their internal organs.
“The decision was made to humanely euthanize the whale to prevent further suffering,” the MMSC said.
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The whale was immediately taken to Animal Health Diagnostic Lab for necropsy, the MMSC said.
“The laboratory will be following NOAA protocols for sampling freshly deceased cetaceans, and preserving samples for analysis of the ears and other organs,” the MMSC said.
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