Marine organizations attempt whale rescue after rare Ocean Isle spotting

OCEAN ISLE BEACH, NC (WWAY)– The Ocean Isle Beach Turtle Protection Organization is learning more information about a whale they saw for the first time Sunday.

Visitors called the organization when they found this male, 8-foot long Pigmy Sperm Whale on the east end of Ocean Isle Beach near the Shallotte inlet. The UNCW Marine Biology team also responded to the call. They say the whale had likely been sick for a while and was about 100 miles off course.

Deb Allen with the turtle protection organization says it was the first time any of them had ever seen this type of whale, because they live so far off shore.

“The whale was beautiful and he only opened his eyes a few times, and you could tell he was watching us. He seemed to calm down when spoken to and the rescuers patted his side,” Allen said.

Teams tried several times to get the whale to swim back out, but they say he just kept coming back. Eventually, Allen says they just kept him wet where he beached himself. After about four hours of attempting to save the whale, Allen says he did not make it.

“While the outcome was not what we had hoped, we take pride in knowing we were with him in his final moments,” Allen said.

The organization says they learned this whale dives about 1000 meters to eat only squid. They say it that situation cannot be replicated, so the whale cannot survive in captivity.