A dwarf sperm whale calf is comforted after washing ashore in St. Augustine. | Oceana/Joseph Pellegrino and St. Johns County Office of Public Affairs
Published on October 25, 2024 at 1:50 pm
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A large plastic bag was found in the stomach of a baby whale, according to a necropsy performed on the mammal that washed ashore in St. Augustine last month.
A beachgoer on Butler Beach found the 4-foot emaciated dwarf sperm whale calf and called the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Alert Hotline. Officials took the distressed mammal to veterinarians, but due to its condition, the whale was euthanized.
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This week, St. Johns County Beach Services shared a video along with the results of a necropsy, which showed the large bag and associated ulcers.
Oceana’s Hunter Miller, who lives near the area, said dwarf sperm whales spend a lot of time deep in the ocean.
“It’s just sad to see an ending like this with a very cool species of whale dying on our coastline,” Miller said. “We don’t know for sure that’s the cause of death (this plastic bag), but it certainly did not help this whale.”
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Miller called the incident disturbing but not surprising, given the plastic pollution in oceans and the inability of local governments in Florida to regulate plastic bags.
Beach Services says if you see a beached marine animal — even a small one — do not push it back in the water because that could delay humane treatment and care.
