21-Foot Killer Whale Washes Ashore on Florida Beach in ‘Extremely Rare’ Event

By  //  January 11, 2023

cause of the whale's death is being investigated

In what is being labeled an extremely rare event, a 21-foot Orca whale beached itself on Wednesday near Jungle Hut Park in Palm Coast, where it later died. (FCSO Image)

FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA – In what is being labeled an extremely rare event, a 21-foot Orca whale beached itself on Wednesday near Jungle Hut Park in Palm Coast, where it later died.

The event has puzzled marine biologists and is the first recording in history that a killer whale has been stranded in Florida.

On Wednesday, SeaWorld rescue teams and officials from the Florida Fish and Wildlife assisted in the removal of the whale from the beach.

Authorities say a necropsy will be performed to determine the cause of the whale’s death.

Authorities say a necropsy will be performed to determine the cause of the whale’s death.(FCSO Image)

Dr. Erin Fougeres, administrator of NOAA’s marine mammal stranding program, says this is the first killer whale stranding ever reported in the southeast region of the U.S.

Blair Mase, coordinator of NOAA’s marine mammal stranding program, said the whale appeared to be an adult female in “decent body condition.”

Orcas are the largest extant members of the dolphin family.

Due to their enormous range, numbers, and density, relative distribution is difficult to estimate, but they clearly prefer higher latitudes and coastal areas over pelagic environments. Areas which serve as major study sites for the species include the coasts of Iceland, Norway, the Valdes Peninsula of Argentina, the Crozet Islands, New Zealand and parts of the west coast of North America, from California to Alaska.