A humpback whale and its calf put on a show for kayakers at Playa Escondido in Costa Rica on Aug, 23. The large whale sent waves toward the kayakers as it jumped in and out of the water.
NAPLES, Flo. — Police responded to an unusual call when a pilot whale calf was found stranded on the beach in Florida.
It happened on Monday afternoon along the beaches of Pelican Bay in Naples, Florida.
PHOTOS: YOUNG HUMPBACK WHALE WASHES ASHORE AFTER LIKELY SHIP STRIKE IN DELAWARE
The Collier County Sheriff’s Office and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) responded to the scene to help the beached baby whale. Officials later confirmed that the whale had to be euthanized.
Local news agencies are reporting that the whale was spotted in shallow water just a few feet from shore.
Deputies work together to try to rescue a whale calf, who eventually had to be euthanized.
(Collier County Sheriff’s Office/Facebook / FOX Weather)
While tragic, whale beaching is somewhat common, with about 2,000 strandings happening each year worldwide, according to the Fish and Wildlife Foundation of Florida, and most beaching result in the death of the animal.
Some whale and dolphin species are more prone to beaching, including toothed whales, and Orca whales, who sometimes intentionally beach themselves to hunt for shoreline seals.
dog on a boat recently “played” with two humpback whales off the coast of San Diego. Video shows the pup barking at the whales after one shot water out of its blowhole! Other clips show the whales interacting with the dog and the people on the boat.
According to the International Whaling Commission, short-finned pilot whales are typically found in tropical and warm-temperature oceans.
Like killer whales and sperm whales, pilot whales form stable family and social groups of 20 to 100 individuals. They are known to stay with their maternal group for life.
Due to their strong social bonds, pilot whales are often involved in mass stranding, per NOAA Fishers.
WATCH: FLORIDA BEAR TAKES A DIP IN THE OCEAN, NAPS IN BEACHFRONT CONDO
Experts suggest that if you see an injured or stranded marine mammal, do not try to push them back into the water.
Many animals strand themselves because they are ill or injured, which requires trained responders to intervene, according to the Fish and Wildlife Foundation of Florida.
