Authorities are investigating what killed a sperm whale that washed up on shore on Kauai’s Lydgate Beach Park this weekend.
KITV reports the investigation will be conducted by the University of Hawaii Health and Stranding Lab.
Sperm whales are on the endangered species list.
Two county excavators struggled Saturday trying to move the whale on the shoreline onto the beach. The whale is 56-foot-long and weighs 120,000-pound. Big Island Now reports the high tide finally washed it ashore.
“There are many possible causes including disease, injuries from a vessel strike, entanglement with discarded fishing line or ingestion of plastic marine debris,” said Dr. Kristi West of the University of Hawaii.
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