Dwarf sperm whale rescued after becoming stranded on Miaoli beach

Taipei, July 5 (CNA) A live dwarf sperm whale stranded on a beach in Miaoli County, northern Taiwan, on Sunday has been transferred to a marine mammal rehabilitation center for treatment and observation, the Ocean Conservation Administration (OCA) said.

The OCA said it received a report at 9:57 a.m. through the Marine Animal Rescue Network (MARN) after the Coast Guard Administration discovered the stranded whale near Zhunan Township.

OCA personnel and coast guard officers rushed to the scene and provided emergency care, including keeping the whale upright and hydrated. A veterinarian from the Taiwan Cetacean Society later identified the animal as a dwarf sperm whale measuring about 222 centimeters in length.

Following an on-site assessment, the rescue team transferred the whale to the Badouzi Cetacean Rescue Station in Keelung, the OCA said.

The administration said the cause of the stranding has yet to be determined and will be investigated through continued monitoring and veterinary examinations.

According to the OCA, dwarf sperm whales are deep-diving toothed whales that inhabit tropical and subtropical waters around the world. They typically live in offshore deep-water habitats, feed on squid and fish, and are rarely seen in the wild due to their elusive behavior.

The agency said deep-water cetaceans may strand near shore for various reasons, including health problems, environmental changes, navigational difficulties or other factors.

The OCA urged the public to report stranded or distressed protected marine wildlife by calling the Coast Guard's 118 hotline or notifying local authorities so rescue teams can respond promptly.