Sperm Whale Stranded at Cape Lookout

The weekend before Christmas, a team of anglers that included NC State veterinarians, Drs. Greg Lewbart and Anthony Blikslager, discovered a recently deceased sperm whale stranded near the point on Cape Lookout. The group contacted Dr. Craig Harms, Director of Marine Health at the Center for Marine Sciences and Technology (CMAST), who called Dr. Vicky Thayer, NC marine mammal stranding coordinator, to mobilize the NC marine mammal stranding response network team.

UNC-W large-whale specialists, Bill McLellan and Ann Pabst, were also called in to conduct a thorough postmortem exam alongside the CMAST veterinarian team, with zoological medicine residents Nick Dannemiller and Laura Martinelli assisting. While the on-site necropsy team could not determine a cause of death of the young, 16-ton male sperm whale, they collected tissue for further histopathology and diagnostic tests.  Thanks to all members of this collaboration team and to and Cape Lookout National Seashore for providing essential logistical support.  All activities were conducted with permission from the National Marine Fisheries Service.