A 21-foot female Orca that washed ashore in Florida Wednesday morning has died, according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.
“SeaWorld will be performing her necropsy to establish the cause of her death,” the department said in a social media post.
Deputies responded to the beach south of Jungle Hut Park in Palm Coast, where the 7,000-pound mammal was found. Authorities said marine biologists with SeaWorld and officials with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission were called to remove the beached whale.
“We want to thank our Flagler County staff who came together in order to assist SeaWorld as they moved this 7,000lb whale off the shore and on the road to Orlando,” the department noted. “Our Public Works Department swiftly brought multiple pieces of equipment to the beach to assist the workers with getting the whale off the shore. Our Parks Manager, Craig Lenniger was providing assistance to SeaWorld and all the ground staff ensuring resources were available. General Service staff, Art Ecklund and Kent Codling operated our bobcats and George Miller operated our Public Works bulldozer, together they were able to assist SeaWorld with transporting the whale back to land.”
Due to the large crowds gathering to see the whale, Jungle Hut Road was closed to all traffic, and drivers were urged to avoid the area. Residents were also asked to avoid the area.
