Melon-headed whale likely suffered from pneumonia

Researchers believe that a whale that a melon-headed whale that beached itself on Dog Island died from pneumonia and fluid around the heart.

The 8 and a half foot long whale was spotted by someone on Dog Island Saturday morning who thought it was a dead dolphin in the surf.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation commission responded to the call and ascertained it was not a dolphin, so they contacted Gulf world marine Park which is part of the Marine Mammal Stranding Network.

Gulf World biologists went to the site and found the whale lethargic with very weak vital signs.  

They sedated the whale for transport but unfortunately it died while being taken across the bay to Carrabelle.

They took samples from the whale carcass for necropsy to find out the cause of death.

Melon-headed whales are not rare in the Gulf, but they are not often seen because they prefer deep water.

Gulf World has only responded to one other Melon-Headed Whale stranded along our beaches in the past 5 years.  

 Gulf World Marine Institute would like to thank all of the people that helped in the effort to save this animal.

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