A 25,000-pound fin whale that stranded on a tidal pond in Rhode Island has been euthanized, officials announced.
The 42-foot-long cetacean was first called to Mystic Aquarium’s rescue hotline around 6:30 a.m. Thursday when it was found lost at Potter Pond in South Kingston.
Aquarium staff and veterinarian found ‘debilitated’ and ‘in critical condition’ at aquarium told the Boston Globe In a statement.
After an assessment, experts determined that the whale “does not appear to have any obvious injuries or signs that would be a direct cause of stranding,” the research group said.
Officials consulted with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and decided to wait for high tide, hoping there would be enough water for the whales to swim out of the pond.
“Unfortunately, the whale did not surface,” the group said. “Animal welfare is Mystic Aquarium’s top priority and given the whale’s poor condition and low chance of survival, the decision was made to undertake medical intervention to alleviate the whale’s suffering.”
Officials said the whale was euthanized around 9:20 p.m. Thursday, surrounded by aquarium staff and representatives from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management.
Researchers performed a necropsy on the whale on Friday to determine the cause of the stranding. According to the Globe, the process involves removing something called a “banana peel” from the whale’s skin for testing.
Sarah Curran, the aquarium’s animal rescue program manager, said: “While we are saddened by the outcome, we are also somewhat relieved that this animal is now at peace.” “We’re going to collect a lot of data today and learn more about not only what happened to this particular whale, but also about the different threats facing this species as a whole.”
The whale’s sad story also helped unite a community concerned about marine life.
“Yesterday, a nearby homeowner brought us coffee and we received an email wishing the whale well,” said Francesca Battaglia, an animal rescue technician. told WPRI. “The community came together to lift our spirits, and we really appreciate it.”
Just hours after the first whale carcass was reported, a second whale carcass washed up on the shore in the same town.
No autopsy will be performed on the whale, as it was found in a decomposed state.
