Nine Pilot Whales Strand on Pensacola Beach
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On Thursday October 11, 2001 nine short finned pilot whales beached themselves along Pensacola Beach and Gulf Islands National Seashore. Although heroic efforts were made by local volunteers and organizations, six of the whales were too sick to save. Three of the whales were transported to Gulf World Marine Park in Panama City for treatment. Two of these whales has since passed away. For updates on the surviving whale, click to go to the Gulf World Stranding Network updates here or at the left. Necropsies were conducted on the whales that passed away to help determine
the reason for the stranding. To see pictures of the procedure click
necropsy pictures here or at the left. We didn't find any obvious reason for the whales stranding
themselves during the procedure. Tissue samples were sent for analysis to
the National Marine Fisheries Service and other laboratories. |
