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Mobile, AL (WALA) Biologists said the sperm whale spotted in Mobile Bay for nearly a week was euthanized Wednesday morning. <\/p>\n
Dr. Ruth Carmichael with the Dauphin Island Sea Labs Marine Mammal Research Program said the whale was just too sick to survive.<\/p>\n
The euthanasia was deemed the best option for this animal who was suffering and unable to swim and survive any longer in the wild, said Dr. Carmichael.<\/p>\n
Boaters first spotted the 36-foot long sperm whale in the bay on Thursday. Researchers with the sea lab said it was the first time a sperm whale had been seen in Alabama.<\/p>\n
A necropsy will be performed to find out what caused the whale to venture into the shallow waters of Mobile Bay.<\/p>\n
Its a deep water species, so whatever it is that affected it there is a chance that it could be affecting other animals that are out that might wash up in other locations, said Dr. Carmichael.<\/p>\n
The necropsy should be completed by Thursday, but it could take weeks before researchers get test results back to determine what was wrong with the whale.<\/p>\n
Carmichael said the whale weighs about 30,000 pounds and is either a fully grown female, or a young adult male.<\/p>\n
Biologists estimate there is a population of 1,000 sperm whales in the northern Gulf of Mexico.<\/p>\n
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Biologists euthanize sperm whale in Mobile Bay deemed too sick to survive - KTVZ<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Click here for updates on this story Mobile, AL (WALA) Biologists said the sperm whale spotted in Mobile Bay for nearly a week was euthanized Wednesday morning. Continue reading