LONGPORT -
A Pygmy sperm whale was found on a Longport beach Monday morning. Officials with the Marine Mammal Stranding Center say the animal was in bad shape when they arrived at the scene, and it was later euthanized.
Bob Schoelkopf, director of the MMSC, says pigmy sperm whales are deep sea creates, so the fact it was even this close to shore indicates it was likely sick for some time. Schoelkopf said about 3-4 of the same species usually wash up on New Jersey beaches each year, it's unknown why.
A necropsy will performed to try to learn more what caused this whale to come ashore.
