Feb 24, 2008 11:40 pm US/Eastern
Awaiting Results For Stranded Pygmy Sperm Whale
Call 305-451-4774 For Information To Save The Whale.
KEY LARGO (CBS4) ―
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The team at the Marine Mammal Conservancy (MMC) put a tube through the whale's mouth, poured in a mixture of water and Pedialyte, that's because the mammal is dehydrated and has not eaten in a while.
CBS
Medical mammal experts are awaiting test results in an effort to determine what may have caused a whale to become stranded in shallow waters in the Florida Keys.
The 10 1/2-foot pygmy sperm whale was discovered early Saturday at Lower Matecumbe Key in Islamorada.
Rescue teams spent hours moving the whale into a truck and transported the animal to the Marine Mammal Conservancy in Key Largo.
Volunteers at the Conservancy hope to release the whale after the rehabilitation process ends.
Since Saturday volunteers have maintained a 24-watch on the whale in the Conservancy's rehabilitation lagoon. They have worked 4-hour shifts, round-the-clock, helping to support and comfort the whale.
"Four hours in the water might sound long, when you are cold it can be, but when you realize what the whale is going through it makes you feel like your four hours is the least you can do to help that animal," said a volunteer.
Volunteers are needed to come out and help hold the whale and donations are also being taken. Call 305-451-4774 or click here if you are interested.
"We've taken blood work, cultures, sent off blood to test for viruses and have done an electro cardiogram," said Robert Lingenfelser, MMC president. "We've got endoscopes and ultrasound scheduled, so we still have a lot of testing to do on this guy to find out exactly what is going on."
Lingenfelser said the condition of the whale, estimated to weigh 1,000 pounds, is classified as "critical," though he was stronger Sunday and "swimming a little on his own."
"We often see that they'll ingest a plastic bag thinking is a jelly fish," said Lingenfelser. "It blocks their intestines and hopefully that is all we are going to see here."
"He's still dehydrated," he said "We're giving him fluids every four hours and giving him a bit of a fish soup to start putting protein in him."
Over the years several whales have become beached on South Florida shores. The most recent was in July of 2006, when a 30 foot sperm whale was stuck and struggling off the coast of Big Pine Key. Eventually the 20 plus-ton mammal beached itself.
A partial necropsy was unable to determine what caused the whale to swim into such shallow waters.
Despite performing a partial necropsy, marine biologist were unable to determine what caused the whale to swim to such shallow waters.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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