Rare Melon-Head Whale Dies on Caribbean Island of Trinidad

A rare melon-headed whale that was seen stranded along the eastern coast of Trinidad late Thursday, died during the early hours of Friday, reports The Associated Press.

Spotted on Manzanilla beach, several efforts were made by the rescue team to help the whale return to sea. But all rescue efforts failed as the young whale kept returning to the shore.

The melon-headed whale is closely related to the pygmy whale and pilot whale and collectively they are known by the common name blackfish. They feed mainly on squids. They are spread throughout the world and are mainly found in the tropical waters. They generally stay in deep waters and are a rare sight to humans.

According to the Head of the Marine Mammal Stranding Network (MMSN), veterinarian Dr. Carla Phillips, the seven-foot long whale had symptoms of some fatal illness. The animal that is found stranded is usually dying. In most cases these stranded animals are euthanized, reports Trinidad Express. The officials plan for a necropsy that will be conducted at the University of the West Indies School of Veterinary Medicine at the Mt. Hope hospital.

Game warden Jack Kisto was quoted in Trinidad Express as saying, "These whales travel in groups and if they get separated from the group, they tend to head to shore. Or when they are sick and feel like they might be about to die, they also head to shore."

At the same time, Kisto rules out rescue attempts as one of the best options to save the creature as he feels that with the rescue attempt, an additional stress is added on the animal. One cannot take pictures or shine bright lights as the sea creature is not accustomed to it. Every step has to be taken carefully because they have no idea how they can affect the animals, reports The Inquisitr.