Beached Whale Euthanized

VERO BEACH, FL--Harbor Branch officials Tuesday euthanized the female pygmy sperm whale found early this afternoon at South Beach in Vero Beach.

The 9 1/2 --10 foot long whale was diagnosed with a heart condition called cardiomyopathy and had fluid in the lungs, said Gregory Bossart, chief marine animal veterinarian at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute in Fort Pierce.

A necropsy on the whale will be conducted early Wednesday morning, Bossart said.

The 1,000 pound whale became beached about 1:30 p.m. near South Beach, according to the Vero Beach Police Department. Indian River County Fire Rescue crews used water from their fire engine to rinse the whale and keep it wet until Harbor Branch officials arrived.