Pygmy Sperm Whale Beached on Maui, Flown to Oʻahu

Image courtesy: Peg Alm via Ocean Defender Hawaiʻi.

By Wendy Osher

A pygmy sperm whale was found beached at Keawakapu in South Maui on Wednesday morning, July 22, 2015, according to representatives with the non-profit Ocean Defender Hawaiʻi group.

The mature marine mammal was reportedly loaded onto a truck and taken to the airport where it was then transported to Oʻahu for a necropsy last night.

Oriana Kalama, founder and president of Ocean Defender Hawaiʻi said the whale appeared to be healthy.  She said she hopes results of testing will reveal the cause of death.

She also expressed concerns over sonar exercises, and hoped further studies on ocean currents could lead to a better understanding of its potential impact on marine mammals.