A 21-foot orca – also known as a “killer whale” – beached itself Wednesday morning in Flagler County, Fla., and died on the sandy shore.
Crowds gathered to catch a glimpse of the huge marine mammal.
By late Wednesday, afternoon law enforcement had worked with Sea World marine biologists and MyFWC Florida Fish and Wildlife to remove the animal.
The Flagler County Sherriff’s Office said deputies were on the scene shortly after the orca beached Wednesday south of Jungle Hut Park in Palm Coast.
According to Whale and Dolphin Conservation, orcas are the largest member of the dolphin family and they are highly intelligent. Male orcas can grow to be up to 33 feet long and weigh 22,000 pounds, while female orcas can live to be 80 years old.
“They were given the name ‘killer whale’ by ancient sailors who saw them preying on large whales,” said the organization.
Jungle Hut Road was closed after large crowds began to gather to watch the beached orca Wednesday. It was opened to traffic around 4 p.m., when the animal had been removed. MyFWC Florida Fish and Wildlife are expected to help with a necropsy of the orca to determine its cause of death.
“While tragic, whale beachings are not isolated to any one cause, species, or geographic location,” according to the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida. It said there are usually 2,000 strandings each year worldwide and that most result in death.
“The beaching of a single, live animal is usually the result of sickness or injury,” the foundation explained. “Bad weather, old age, navigation errors, and hunting too close to shore also contribute to beachings.”
Follow KNX News 97.1 FM
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok
Related
Related
