Mother whale dead, calf alive after being stranded on Horry County beach (South Carolina, USA)

Photo of the beached mother whale. Source : Mandy Noell

July 16^th, 2015 (Ian Cross). HORRY COUNTY, SC – A mother whale has died, but her calf is still alive after both were stranded on a beach near Kingston Plantation in Horry County, officials confirmed.

The mother pygmy sperm whale died at around 11 a.m., after coming ashore and beaching, likely after giving birth, according to an official with Horry County Beach Patrol. Beach Patrol and beach-goers tried to put both whales back in the water, but she continued to beach herself.

Ed Sibylline : it’s why a medical protocol should exist to immediately evaluate the health of a stranded cetacean and adress it correctly. Blind refloation makes loose a precious time !

Marine biologists from Coastal Carolina University are currently with the calf. A video sent in from Patti Hulbert shows the calf in shallow water, moving its fins.

If they put the baby back into the water after its mother died, it won’t rehabilitate, according to Dr. Rob Young, a marine biologist with CCU. A veterinarian will evaluate the calf and go from there. A necropsy will be performed on the mother, and Dr. Young says whale beach themselves when they are sick.

Ed Sibylline : so, what will they do : kill it, slave it ?

The whales were first reported beached near the waterline at about 9 a.m. Thursday, and since then, a large crowd has gathered, said Lt. Raul Denis with Horry County Police.

Kingston Plantation is in an area of unincorporated Horry County, between Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach

Image of the beached calf whale. Source : Patti Hulbert

Update : the calf has been slaughtered… as usual !

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