Jun 25, 2008 12:44 pm US/Eastern
Stranded Keys Whale Had Meningitis
Tests Showed Multiple Organs Had Been Infected
KEY LARGO (CBS4) ―
A rare beaked whale that stranded itself off the Florida Keys had Meningitis.
An intensive necropsy performed by the Marine Mammal Conservancy found evidence of infection in multiple organs and that the whales' liver had a heavy parasitic infestation.
Officials are awaiting the results of DNA tests to determine the exact species of the whale. The mature female whale was identified either as a Gervais' beaked whale or a Sowerby's beaked whale. The whale was discovered last Friday morning stranded in shallow waters off Islamorada and subsequently transported to the Conservancy in
Key Largo.
Volunteers continued a round-the-clock effort to help the seriously ill beaked whale.
U.S. Navy audiologists conducted a hearing test on whale to establish a hearing baseline measure for the whale-- something that has only been done once for a Gervais' and never for a Sowerby's. That gives them data they can use for comparison purposes in the future.
Beaked whales that survive a stranding are very rare, said Robert Lingenfelser, President of the Marine Mammal Conservancy in Key Largo. It was the reason, he said, that the Navy was so interested in testing the mammal.
"We know so little about beaked whales and it's important to establish baselines on what their hearing ranges are and their susceptibility to ocean noise," he said. "So that data can be incorporated into proper management of all kind of things and including, in my opinion, probably military exercises."
Tests performed at the conservancy showed the whale suffered from a non-functioning liver and failed kidneys.
Our veterinarians and National Marine Fisheries officials completely agreed there was no hope for the whale," Lingenfelser said. "Her digestive system had completely shut down even before she arrived at MMC."
The whale was euthanized at 6:13 p.m. on Monday.
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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