Marine biologists have decided to euthanize a 12-foot pygmy sperm whale rescued from a southeast Texas beach.
Heidi Whitehead of the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network says that experts decided the prognosis for the whale was bleak and the veterinarians have decided that trying to keep the more than half-ton animal alive in the network's rehabilitation tank in Galveston would only prolong is suffering.
Keith Wilkins of Forney and his 11-year-old daughter Allison found the whale Wednesday morning on the West End of Galveston according to the Galveston Daily News.
Galveston police received the call around 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, saying the whale had stranded itself on Jamaica Beach, an area on west Galveston Island known for resorts and beach houses.
Police dispatcher Billy Sanders says it's extremely unusual for a live whale to become beached in the area, but that dolphins often wash ashore.
