A 20-meter-long sperm whale has stranded off the Gulf coast of the US state of Florida. As the responsible police department in the popular tourist resort of Venice announced on Facebook, the animal is still alive. It is located about 45 meters from the beach.
In a police video you can see the whale repeatedly raising its fin in the shallow water. The authorities asked people to avoid the area in several messages on Facebook. Experts are currently advising whether the marine mammal can be helped.
Sperm whales live in all of the world’s oceans. According to the environmental and animal welfare organization WWF, they can dive up to 2,000 meters deep in search of food. Large bulls can reach a length of over 20 meters and a weight of around 50 tons.
