Beached whale found on Hilton Head Island

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (WSAV) – A whale beached itself Saturday evening on Hilton Head near the Ocean Oaks Resort on South Forest Beach.

Authorities, along with SCDNR, have been on the scene since last night. Federal NOAA staff have responded to the stranded whale. At this time, NOAA is leading the response effort.

The Town of Hilton Head released a statement via its Facebook. The message reads:

“A beached sperm whale has been spotted on Hilton Head Island.

The whale is still alive, and trained professionals, including NOAA and marine mammal experts, are on-site doing everything possible to keep it comfortable.

When whales beach themselves, it’s often because they are already seriously ill or injured. In this case, euthanasia has been determined to be the most humane option. However, the specific type and amount of euthanasia medication required is not something that’s readily available and is currently being transported from Florida. A highly experienced veterinarian from the Georgia Aquarium is also en route to perform the procedure.

We understand how difficult this is to witness, and we appreciate the community’s compassion and patience. Please continue to respect the perimeter and give responders the space they need.

We will continue to share updates as we receive them.“