Photo: Arctic-Images / Stone / Getty Images
Miami, FL - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lc4sSB-qH3E&pp=ygURc3Blcm0gd2hhbGUgbWlhbWk%3D
Witnesses spotted the roughly 13-foot mammal struggling in shallow water before NOAA responders arrived to assess its condition.
Officials say the whale was still alive on arrival but deemed too ill and unable to recover.
Following federal guidelines to prevent undue suffering, it was humanely euthanized.
Soon after, responders removed the whale to a NOAA lab in Miami where a full necropsy is underway to determine the cause of the stranding.
Stranding events often occur when marine mammals are ill, injured, or, as in the case of young whales, separated from family pods.
Videos shared by local observers captured the tense moments as responders surrounded the whale at dawn.
Spectators and officials emphasized the importance of contacting trained personnel rather than approaching stranded marine life.
Authorities continue to remind the public to report any sightings of injured or deceased marine animals by calling 1-877-942-5343.
The incident drew cooperation from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Marine Animal Response Society, who assisted in the rescue, assessment, and removal.
Researchers will now analyze biological samples to determine if factors like disease, ocean noise, pollution, temperature shifts, or entanglement played a role in the whale’s death.
Officials stress that understanding cases like this can offer vital insight into the overall health of marine ecosystems and help guide future conservation efforts.