Another large species has come close to American shores, this time in Florida CNN reported Friday.
"Although it looks large and scary, it is a very humane thing to do," Erin Fougeres, a marine mammal biologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration told CNN.
The 30-foot sperm whale was found in Tampa, and is a rare site, especially near land, and was euthanized when veterinarians from the University of Florida determined it could not survive by itself.
Officials then relaxed the creature, and injected a drug using a six foot needle into its chest cavity to pause its heart.
Officials carted off the 10 ton whale to Fort de Soto Park near the Tampa border from Madeira Beach, Fla., so scientists could figure out what made it sick, known to reside further out in the Gulf of Mexico.
He was checked for parasites, and wounds, and torn open Friday afternoon so scientists could see if the whale was sickened from regular issues or through contact with humans the AP reported.
Crowds flocked to see the whale Thursday morning, who marine scientists claim was not healthy, and not small enough to be transported to receive medical attention. He would also end up in the same situation scientists found him in Thursday if he was put back out in the water.
Thursday's sighting has not been the only case of whales struggling near land and euthanized as an over eight ton sperm whale was also put down in 2008 off Texas waters the Associated Press reported.
This species was 40 feet from the state's Mustang Island State Park.
"This animal stranded for a reason," Tim Tristan, a veterinarian told the AP. "It can be heartbreaking, but all we could do was make it comfortable." Tristan euthanized the animal who was also large.
