December 16, 2012 whale dies off the FLORIDA Beach coast, drifts out to sea

Sperm whale dies off the Pompano Beach coast, drifts out to sea The carcass of a 40-foot sperm whale that apparently died as it neared the beach Sunday afternoon later drifted out to sea, thereby ending a drama that had drawn the attention of beachgoers and scientists alike.

"There is very little you can do for a whale that is ill or seriously injured," said Stefan Harzen, a marine biologist from Jupiter who responded to the scene offshore from Northeast 10th Street.

Harzen's wife, Barbara Brunnick, also a marine biologists, paddled out to a Broward Sheriff's boat monitoring the whale's movements and made the identification.

The whale was spotted about noon offshore near the 600 block of North Ocean Boulevard, according to the Broward Sheriff's Office.

Also responding were two members of the Marine Animal Rescue Society, David Bremer and Kim Geng.

Officers from the Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission were also at the scene. [link to www.sun-sentinel.com]






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