Sperm whale rescued from Malibu beach euthanized for injuries

A sperm whale was rescued by Los Angeles County lifeguards and fire crews Sunday after being stranded on the beach.
A sperm whale was rescued by Los Angeles County lifeguards and fire crews Sunday after being stranded on the beach. Photo credit Los Angeles County Fire Department, Lifeguard Division/Twitter

MALIBU, Calif. (KNX) – A sperm whale was rescued by Los Angeles County lifeguards and fire crews Sunday after it was stranded on the beach.

It happened on Malibu Surfrider Beach.

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Los Angeles County lifeguards and firefighters responded at 4:40 p.m. to help remove the pygmy sperm whale off the shoreline.

The whale was taken to California Wildlife Rescue, where officials said the whale had to be euthanized due to injuries.

“The whale was in poor health and had sustained many injuries as a result of hitting against low tide rocks,” the wildlife organization told CBS L.A. “Working with NOAA, we opted to humanely euthanized the animal, in order to prevent additional suffering.”

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Featured Image Photo Credit: Los Angeles County Fire Department, Lifeguard Division/Twitter