HOLLYWOOD, Fla., Aug. 11 (UPI) -- A baby beaked whale too young to survive was euthanized after its mother died in shallow water in Hollywood, Fla., authorities said.
"This ultimately is a tragic story," said Blair Mase, a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration expert on stranded marine life.
The mother and calf entered the shallow waters Monday, swimming in circles and thrashing near shore, The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported Tuesday.
Rescuers covered the 16-foot, 2,000-pound mother with wet towels to protect her from the sun, while her 6-foot, 200-pound calf swam nearby. Hundreds of people watched and cheered rescuers on.
Beaked whales, native to the Florida coast, are deep-water feeders who only come to shore when they are in major distress, Mase said, adding there was no place to take the whales to treat them.
"There's no aquarium that has this species in captivity," Mase said.
The calf was euthanized shortly after the mother died Monday afternoon and both were taken to a NOAA facility in Key Biscayne for study.
