Whale beached on Hilton Head Island this weekend. How and why it likely washed up on shore

Those successful the Savannah country were portion of a unsocial but tragic scene.

A sperm whale was beached connected the enactment of Hilton Head Island implicit the weekend. Why did this hap and what bash we know?

What happened with the sperm whale connected Hilton Head Island?

Hilton Head Island's authorities posted updates and photos of the country connected Facebook. As of Sunday morning, the whale was alive, but euthanasia had been determined to beryllium the astir humane option. Marine carnal experts tried to support it comfy portion the euthanasia was transported successful from Florida. It was sedated and euthanized aboriginal that night.

Where did the sperm whale travel from?

Sperm whales person 1 of the widest planetary distributions of immoderate marine mammal taxon and tin beryllium recovered successful immoderate heavy water astir the world, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Migrations are not precise predictable with immoderate populations having antithetic patterns based connected their beingness status, with big males making agelong oceanographic migrations into temperate waters whereas females and young enactment successful tropical waters year-round.

Hilton Head's authorities said the whale apt drifted hundreds of miles earlier reaching the shoreline.

Why did the sperm whale formation itself?

Also known arsenic "stranding," the beaching of a azygous whale is usually owed to sickness oregon injury, according to the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida. Ingesting quality debris and trash has historically been an contented here. Another mode humans whitethorn origin beachings is done loud, man-made sounds that disrupt animals with echolocation, including sperm whales. Bad weather, aged age, navigation errors, and hunting excessively adjacent to enactment besides lend to beachings.

Hilton Head's authorities said they judge the whale was severely emaciated. A necropsy volition beryllium conducted to place the whale's nonstop origin of death. Afterwards, it volition beryllium respectfully buried.

Do sperm whales unrecorded together?

Sperm whales are often spotted successful groups (called pods) of immoderate 15 to 20 animals, according to National Geographic. Pods see females and their young, portion males whitethorn roam solo oregon determination from radical to group. The beached whale was reportedly a juvenile, but we don't cognize its sex yet.

Are sperm whales endangered?

NOAA lists the pursuing conservation statuses for sperm whales:

• Endangered Species Act: "Endangered"

• Marine Mammal Protection Act: "Protected"

• Marine Mammal Protection Act: "Depleted"

Miguel Legoas is simply a Deep South Connect Team Reporter for Gannett/USA Today. Find him connected X and Instagram @miguelegoas and email astatine [email protected].

This nonfiction primitively appeared connected Savannah Morning News: Why did a sperm whale lavation up connected Hilton Head Island shore? What to know