Photos courtesy of
Gale Jameyson
May 27, 2015 2:09 p.m.
A distressed short finned pilot whale was discovered during the early morning hours south of the Fort Clinch fishing pier. According to Johnny Miller, local resident and city commissioner, fish and wild life experts on the scene believe the whale is a victim of morbillivirus. There is very little hope the whale will survive.
Editor’s Note: Gale Jameyson provided us with excellent photos taken during an attempt to rescue. Thank you Gale for your contributions.
A shame to see such a creature in that situation.
Dave Scott, are you sure you weren’t doing some of your underwater sonar testing?
David, You know if you disagree with Old Dave Scott, You must be doing something right for Humanity. I’m looking forward to the day he calls me a “Gadfly”
Steve, just write an article on the positive contributions of David Yulee and you will get Dave’s attention and ire in a heartbeat! LOL
The FWC biologist called me the next morning after the whale was taken to the Jacksonville Zoo for humane euthanasia and necropsy. The results of the preliminary analysis were as follows. The short finned pilot whale was an old female, teeth badly worn, no food in her stomach, several internal organs showing blood and signs of failure, infested with parasites, and she was underweight for her length of 13 feet. Weight was approximately 1,500 pounds. Samples of various tissues and organs were removed and sent off for laboratory analysis to determine what toxins or pathogens might be present.
The whale was beached because she was dying.
Appreciate knowing the results of preliminary analysis, Mac.