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BRIGANTINE - A baby whale was euthanized this evening less than 12 hours after local surfers reported it stranded.

Veterinarians determined that malnutrition and dehydration caused irreparable damage to the animal, according to Bob Schoelkopf, director of the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine.

Several surfers called the center just before 7 a.m. to report the baby Pygmy sperm whale stranded at the shoreline at South Carolina Avenue in Atlantic City.

The species has a notoriously fickle heart, so Schoelkopf summoned a veterinary cardiologist to assess the creature.

Although its heart appeared to function normally, the whale had gone without food long enough that its weight had dropped to 100 pounds, as little as half of what experts consider appropriate for its size - 5 feet, 11 inches long - and age, between 2 and 3 years.

While at the center, the whale shed pieces of its skin and appeared lethargic, both indicators that its body had started to shut down, Schoelkopf said.

Adam Law, 33, of Absecon, said he stayed with the whale as he and other surfers waited for center staff to arrive. The science teacher was not immediately available for comment tonight.

Law noted the cuts that covered its body, which Schoelkopf attributed to jetties in its path as it careened toward the beach.

The whale likely deteriorated after separating from its mother.

Normally, that would happen after the mother had died herself. Whether that happened in this case is unclear because no one has reported finding an adult Pygmy sperm carcass, Schoelkopf said.

The species rarely ventures close to shore, sticking mainly to deep waters in the middle of the ocean, he said.

Earlier in the day, Law said he was heading to surf when he saw the animal lying on the beach.

Law said he waited with the baby pygmy sperm whale while his friend called for help. Law stayed with the creature as police officers and other surfers arrived, followed by workers from the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine.

"I didn't get to catch any waves this morning but I figure I'll have some good ones coming to me in the future for helping this magnificent creature. I hope it will get better," he wrote in an email to The Press of Atlantic City.

5 comments:

• Longportion (1) posts 10:08 am

  Way to go Adam!

• somelady (1) posts 9:50 am

  a shout-out to the NF science teacher/surfer who took the time to wait with the baby whale for authorities to come... what a tale for his class!!!

• THATSINSANE (269) posts 10:11 pm

  WOW, what a change: the HUMAN wants to go to the water and he encounters a WHALE that wants to come to land. The people euthanized the whale, I hope the sharks do the same to the human.

• ratsass (127) posts 6:39 pm

  delicious

• B4real (441) posts 5:09 pm

  I hope the baby whale gets better!

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