Beached Orca Whale Euthanized in Kauai
POIPU, Hawaii — Federal wildlife officials euthanized a sick killer whale after it washed ashore at the popular Brennecke's Beach on the island of Kauai.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration spokeswoman Wende Goo says the 18-foot-long female orca was emaciated and had shark bites, as well as whale lice. She says they are signs the orca had been sick for some time.
Goo says a Hawaiian cultural practitioner conducted rites Wednesday for the animal before it was killed.
A necropsy is to be performed to determine what was ailing the whale.
The animal washed ashore early Wednesday, attracting about 500 people. Killer whales are rarely seen in Hawaiian waters.
John Boulay is a manager at Brennecke's Beach Broiler. He says people tried to push the whale back into the ocean, but it kept washing back.
Brennecke's Beach is next to Poipu Beach on the south shore of the island.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration spokeswoman Wende Goo says the 18-foot-long female orca was emaciated and had shark bites, as well as whale lice. She says they are signs the orca had been sick for some time.
Goo says a Hawaiian cultural practitioner conducted rites Wednesday for the animal before it was killed.
A necropsy is to be performed to determine what was ailing the whale.
The animal washed ashore early Wednesday, attracting about 500 people. Killer whales are rarely seen in Hawaiian waters.
John Boulay is a manager at Brennecke's Beach Broiler. He says people tried to push the whale back into the ocean, but it kept washing back.
Brennecke's Beach is next to Poipu Beach on the south shore of the island.
posted by DP at 2:34 PM
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