VENICE, Fla. - The Venice Police Department is asking all vessels to stay out of the area at Service Club Park as an estimated 50-foot-long, 70,000-pound sperm whale is beached on a sandbar.
"Additionally, the immediate vicinity of the whale is restricted until further notice. There will be police presence at the beach overnight into Monday," said the City Of Venice in a social post.
Authorities in Venice are working to save a beached sperm whale, thought to be around 50 feet long, off the Gulf coast.
The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission reported that the adult live sperm whale was confirmed to have washed up on the beach at 7 a.m. on Sunday morning.
The whale, according to the city, is located 50 yards offshore from Service Club Park on a sandbar.
https://twitter.com/CityofVeniceFL/status/1766919165586137254
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission told the city, “Water conditions are too dangerous to approach the sperm whale in distress at Service Club Park by boat to attempt to give the animal a sedative. The whale is estimated to be approximately 50 feet and 50,000-70,000 pounds.”
According to the FWC, samples will be gathered in an effort to identify the illness’s source and gain additional insight into the health, energetics, and life history of sperm whales.
“Another assessment will be made at low tide, shortly after 7 tonight. Unfortunately, it appears this will likely be a recovery effort as nature takes its course,” said the City of Venice.
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