Wildlife officials say a sperm whale that beached itself on a sandbar off the Florida Gulf Coast has died.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said in a statement that the whale died around 3 a.m. Monday. Police and wildlife officials began trying to free the whale from the shallow sandbar off the beach in Venice on Sunday morning.

By Sunday evening, the whale was suffering from labored breathing.
Biologists say the whale was more than 40 feet long. They had a difficult time helping it because of water conditions.
------------------

For More News and Videos
SUBSCRIBE and Turn Notifications On
https://bit.ly/2r0BEND

Get a Digital Subscription to the Tampa Bay Times
https://bit.ly/2Xinunj

Follow us:
Facebook ►   / tampabaycom  
X ►   / tb_times  
Instagram ►   / tampabaytimes  
TikTok ►   / tampabaytimes