Juvenile sperm whale euthanized after stranding on North Carolina beach
ABC News
A juvenile sperm whale that appeared to be in poor health has been euthanized after stranding on a North Carolina beach
NAGS HEAD, N.C. -- A juvenile sperm whale that appeared to be in poor health was euthanized Wednesday after stranding on a North Carolina beach.
The Virginian-Pilot newspaper reported the whale was put down near Jennette’s Pier in the Outer Banks town of Nags Head.
The whale was spotted in the surf about 7:30 a.m., prompting members of the OBX Marine Mammal Stranding Network to respond. They observed the mammal for a few hours until the tide dropped.
The North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island said in a statement that euthanasia was the best course of action because rehabilitation for many large whale species is difficult or impossible.
“Unfortunately, these single marine mammal strandings indicate that the animal’s health is rapidly declining," the aquarium stated.
