A pygmy sperm whale was found washed up on Florida's Indian Shores on Tuesday. Police officials were alerted about it as witnesses say that it was barely breathing and in serious distress.

Officials noted that there were lots of people who gathered into a crowd until the wildlife officials arrived on the area.

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According to Gerard Negretti, one of the first people who tried to help the whale, said that he rested it on his leg while cradling it as he tried to keep it calm while another person monitored the breathing of the animal.

According to the marine biologists from Clearwater Marine Aquarium and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the whale showed signed of trauma possibly from a shark as there were injuries seen.

The biologists added that they attempted to rescue the whale but they were unsuccessful. They finally decided that euthanasia was the best way to end the suffering of the washed up marine animal.

FWC spokeswoman Kelly Richmond said in a statement that the 6 ½ foot whale might have been attacked by a cookie cutter shark, a.k.a. a cigar shark, from the dogfish family. However, it was also suspected that the baby whale might have fallen ill as it was underweight.

FWC took the whale to their lab for further testing and to get clearer information as to what caused the animal's injuries.

Tagswashed up, wounded, injured, Florida beach, Indian shores, euthanasia, pygmy sperm whale