LITCHFIELD BEACH, S.C. — Marine mammal experts came to Georgetown County Saturday after a 9-foot long, 750-pound pygmy sperm whale became stranded on North Litchfield Beach.
Officials said the whale was alive when it made its way to shore around 7 a.m. Saturday, but by noon no heartbeat could be detected.
Associate Professor Robert F. Young, chair of the Department of Marine Science at Coastal Carolina University, assisted staff from the Marine Mammal Strandings and Life History Program at the National Ocean Service Laboratory in Charleston.
The whale was taken to the laboratory in Charleston.
The pygmy sperm whale is a cousin of the giant sperm whale, according to Internet sources.
It is not considered an endangered species, although the exact number that live in the wild is unknown.
Whale strandings
Young said it normally is difficult to bring such stranded whales back to health, even if they are alive and appear to be surviving.
According to other information, three pygmy killer whales were stranded in North Myrtle Beach in 2007.
Two had to be put to death, because they were too sick to survive.
A stranded whale was also reported off Waccamaw Drive in Garden City Beach in 2007. The whale had already started to decompose by the time authories arrived.
In addition, at least 31 pilot whales beached on the coast in North Carolina in 2005. Some died, but others were washed out to sea.
The whales were found from Nags Head to Oregon Inlet, according to news reports from the Outerbanksfreepress.com.
Some stranded pygmy sperm whales have been found with plastic bags in their stomachs, according to information from the Wikipedia.
“Pygmy sperm whales have never been hunted on a wide scale. Land-based whalers have hunted them from Indonesia, Japan and the Lesser Antilles. Individuals have also been recorded killed in drift nets,” the article stated.
The number to call in South Carolina to report whale strandings is 843-820-0612.
By Lloyd Mackall
and Kelly Marshall Fuller
Kfuller@gtowntimes.com
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