Overview

• A 31-foot juvenile sperm whale beached itself near the Marriott Grand Ocean Resort on Hilton Head Island on May 4.
• Veterinarians determined the whale was severely emaciated and unlikely to survive, leading to its humane euthanasia that evening.
• A veterinarian from the University of Florida administered sedation and euthanasia after specialized equipment was transported to the site.
• A necropsy is being conducted to investigate the whale's illness and stranding, with plans to bury the carcass on the beach afterward.
• Sperm whales are classified as vulnerable by the IUCN and endangered under U.S. conservation laws, reflecting their ongoing recovery from historic whaling.