Killer whale dies after beaching itself on Palm Coast in Florida in 'very rare' ... trends now
A 21-foot killer whale died Wednesday morning after beaching itself in northeast Florida in an event experts are calling 'very rare.'
Video of the Palm Coast, Florida incident was shared Wednesday and showed waves crashing over the unresponsive, lifeless animal before more than a dozen people were called to help move the animal's carcass.
One official with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said its the first-ever incident of an orca dying after beaching itself on the Southeast coast of the U.S. and described the event as 'a really unique situation.'
The cause of death for the whale is unknown at this time.
It took more than a dozen people to move the killer whale from the beach
The Flagler County Sheriff's Office who first shared the news of the beached whale told one local outlet there were no obvious signs of trauma on the whale's body.
Marine biologists from SeaWorld and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials assisted in the removal of the whale and will perform a necropsy to determine a cause of death.
Photos posted by the local sheriff's office show more than a dozen officials at the scene using straps and a makeshift stretcher to move the animal.
'Deputies are on scene south of Jungle Hut Park in Palm Coast after a 21-foot orca whale beached itself this morning. It has since lost its life,' the sheriff's office said in a post Wednesday morning.
Jungle Hut Road where the incident took place was closed for hours after crowds gathered to witness the commotion.
Officials say they are taking the 'really unique' situation as an opportunity to learn.
Video of the Palm Coast, Florida incident was shared Wednesday and showed waves crashing over the unresponsive, lifeless animal
Thousands have reacted and commented on the posts from the Flagler County Sheriff's Office
Killer whales in the Southeast region,
