Sperm whale in water – Courtesy: Animalgraphy
Update: Sperm whale has died.
Off the Florida shore of Venice Beach, authorities made an effort to assist a 50-foot beached whale on Sunday. By Sunday night, officials had revised their estimates of the whale’s length and weight, which had been 50 feet long and 50,000–70,000 pounds.
The whale is situated on a sandbar around 50 yards offshore from Service Club Park, according to the City of Venice. Scientists at Mote Marine Laboratory are receiving assistance from units of the Venice Police and Sarasota County Sheriff’s in relation to the whale, which has been recognized as a sperm whale.
In order for scientists and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to evaluate the status of the whale, police have blocked off the park’s entrance.
As of late Sunday, representatives from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission advised trying again on Monday as it was too dangerous to approach the whale and give it a tranquilizer.
Whale gradually perishes
Hundreds of people had gathered along the shore by late morning to witness the whale, according to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, which is a part of the USA TODAY Network.
The Mote Marine Strandings Investigation Program Manager, Gretchen Lovewell, informed the Herald-Tribune that at approximately 8:30 a.m., the agency received a call reporting that a whale had been seen on a sandbar approximately 150 yards from the beach.
After that, the whale headed toward the nearby sandbar. According to Lovewell, the whale is gradually going extinct since it must stay in deep waters to thrive. According to officials, the whale was still alive but breathing heavily as of Sunday night.
The Herald-Tribune stated that scientists from a number of organizations, including Mote, FWC, Clearwater Marine Aquarium, University of Florida, and Sarasota Dolphin Project, are keeping an eye on the whale’s respiration.
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