Posted on: Monday, August 25, 2003

Rescued whale euthanized

Advertiser Staff

One of the melon-head whales rescued Tuesday off Hau'ula Beach Park has been euthanized. The whale's condition had deteriorated to the point where veterinarians and biologists attending to it decided that more care would only create unnecessary suffering for the animal.

The whales were rescued after they tried to beach themselves. They were being cared for in an enclosed portion of a lagoon at the Marine Mammal Research rehabilitation facility at Marine Corps Base Hawai'i.

Volunteer veterinarians and marine biologists from the Hawaiian Islands Stranding and Response Group and the University of Hawai'i Marine Mammal Rescue Program are still caring for the other whale.

Stranded marine mammals are extremely sensitive and few survive.