PORT CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) -- A female pygmy sperm whale found beached on the rocks in central Florida has been euthanized.
Florida Today reports that biologists had to kill the marine mammal on Monday because deep-diving whales don't survive in captivity.
Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute research scientist Wendy Noke Durden says rescuers can't replicate the diet and conditions the whales need in captivity.
The nearly 10-foot-long whale was found by a commercial fisherman on Monday near the Trident submarine basin at Port Canaveral.
Researchers say the whale looked like it had been sick for a while.
The animal's carcass will be examined in a necropsy at a Melbourne Beach facility.
Pygmy sperm whale rescue underway at #PortCanaveral https://t.co/8olg5NratE @JWayEnviro
— Florida Today (@Florida_Today) September 26, 2016