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Swimmer Caught Riding a Whale Hours Before It Was Found Dead
the daily dish
Up-close animal experiences can be amazing, but it is always important to maintain a relationship of respect. According to the Daily Mail U.K., that respect for animals was not practiced by an unidentified swimmer spotted riding a weak sperm whale in Pompano Beach, Florida, hours before the endangered animal was found dead.
A federal investigation has been launched to look into the whale death. A videotape shows an individual repeatedly climbing onto a whale that was drifting near the beach. Experts are unsure of the cause of the whale's death, but believe the human rider was not the main factor. Instead, it is believed that the animal was dying before this encounter, which is why it was so close to the shore. Regardless, the free-riding swimmer is not cleared of all responsibility. It is a federal offense to harass a marine mammal. Additionally, sperm whales are an endangered species, putting the rider into potentially more trouble.
"This type of harassment could have caused more harm and added stress to an already stressed whale and ultimately cause its demise," Blair Mase, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's southeast regional stranding coordinator told NBC Miami.
Onlookers said the whale appeared to be struggling, fighting the rip tide with its fins. A rescue team was sent out to check on the sperm whale, but little could be done by the time they arrived. The whale washed ashore, deceased, soon after, and it was then towed out to sea so a necropsy could be preformed.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are waiting for the necessary approval from the NOAA to launch a criminal investigation into the unknown whale rider.
Rare White Humpback Whale "Moby Dick" Sighting
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A federal investigation has been launched to look into the whale death. A videotape shows an individual repeatedly climbing onto a whale that was drifting near the beach. Experts are unsure of the cause of the whale's death, but believe the human rider was not the main factor. Instead, it is believed that the animal was dying before this encounter, which is why it was so close to the shore. Regardless, the free-riding swimmer is not cleared of all responsibility. It is a federal offense to harass a marine mammal. Additionally, sperm whales are an endangered species, putting the rider into potentially more trouble.
"This type of harassment could have caused more harm and added stress to an already stressed whale and ultimately cause its demise," Blair Mase, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's southeast regional stranding coordinator told NBC Miami.
Onlookers said the whale appeared to be struggling, fighting the rip tide with its fins. A rescue team was sent out to check on the sperm whale, but little could be done by the time they arrived. The whale washed ashore, deceased, soon after, and it was then towed out to sea so a necropsy could be preformed.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are waiting for the necessary approval from the NOAA to launch a criminal investigation into the unknown whale rider.
Rare White Humpback Whale "Moby Dick" Sighting
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84 Comments
I always cheer for the sharks on those attack shows. Stupid humans are so arrogant they think they have the right to jump on a whale or a dolphin's back. I find it disgusting which is why I refuse to go to Sea World or any zoo.
April 15 2013 at 4:13 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyWhat a moron you are. You always cheer for the shark, I guess it bothers you that children swim at the beach - are they upsetting the natural order of things by splashing in the water? Or is it that you just hate people? I wonder where you live - don't you realize that you are living in a place that was once inhabited by animals and that by living in a building that should be a wildlife environment that you are contributing to the decimation of wildlife habitat? Why don't you take your hypocritical self and take a jump in crocodile or shark infested waters and put your money where your big mouth is? We could all cheer for the shark as you do your part to become part of the great circle of life.
April 15 2013 at 7:07 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyHow do we know that the man's presence and physical contact didn't provide some comfort to the animal, especially if it was close to death? Maybe other beings don't like to die alone either.
December 20 2012 at 2:53 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyBecause previous behavioural studies have documented a shift from surface activities and socialising to deep diving, swimming faster and other avoidance behaviour. We can assume there was high degree of stress in this animal.
December 24 2012 at 10:42 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replyhttp://scholar.google.com.au/scholar?q=whale+avoidance+boats+sperm+whale&btnG=&hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5
I can only hope you're joking. It isn't as though the man was quietly peting it, he was repeatedly jumping on and gripping the dying whale. Are you honestly trying to tell me that you would feel comforted by a stranger sneaking up on you and repeatedly jumping on top of you while you are dying?
April 15 2013 at 9:45 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyPoor guy. He thought it was Opra !
December 19 2012 at 2:21 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplySTFU already about dumb ****.. we have REAL ******* tragedy going on in the US and Abroad who the **** cares about a whale right now.. IDIOTS!!!!!
December 19 2012 at 12:44 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replywill you please take your meds before you do something tragic?
December 19 2012 at 1:48 PM Report abuse Permalink +3 rate up rate down ReplyPerfect :)
January 12 2013 at 7:02 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate downshe (Jeanna) definitely sounds like a mental case. What a happy life she has! Get over yourself!
March 25 2013 at 9:22 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate downWe are all free to care about whatever we feel compelled to comment upon, and an international audience need not dwell upon your domestic affairs at the expense of all other issues. Feel free to let others do likewise. You can both look at your unique domestic policy on gun ownership, and look at the impact of recreational activities on marine ecosystems.
December 24 2012 at 10:46 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyWhy do you think that anyone should give a rats ass about your ignorant "international audience" opinion?
April 15 2013 at 7:12 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate downOMFG get the **** over it!!!! Jesus christ its just a whale and it was already sick for the love of GOD people always gotta bitch about some dumb ****.. GET OVER IT for real..
December 19 2012 at 12:43 PM Report abuse Permalink +1 rate up rate down ReplyI hope when you're dying, someone gets on your back and keeps riding and torturing you. Who cares... you're just a dumb **** and you'll already be sick.... (RIGHT?)
December 20 2012 at 10:14 PM Report abuse Permalink +2 rate up rate down ReplyWhales beach themselves all the time. Animals die. It's not always the fault of humans. If you truly think that humans are responsible for all animal deaths and that humans are a scourge on the earth then don't be a hypocrite - do your part to end animal cruelty and take yourself out. Otherwise, shut the hell up.
April 15 2013 at 7:10 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate downso when your all dying in your death bed, you'd like a little animal to keep climbing on you with no respect? Shows how much respect you all have.
December 19 2012 at 12:27 PM Report abuse Permalink +4 rate up rate down Replyi personally wouldn't mind. my girlfriend has a 5 lbs chihuahua-yorkie that loves to climb up to my face and start licking away indiscriminately.. i don't think i'd mind his presence one bit in my final hours.
December 19 2012 at 1:51 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyMost of us animal lovers would want our beloved pets with us when we die.
January 12 2013 at 7:04 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replyit doesnt really look like a sperm whale.
December 19 2012 at 12:15 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replyimagine hoe captain ahab felt
December 19 2012 at 11:24 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replythe whale is mega size huge. when a fly lands on a human it doesn't hurt.
the circus lets children ride elephants. what about when people swim with dolphins for pay at resorts?
Oh why do I even read these posts, our opinions won't change the facts, just saying
December 19 2012 at 10:30 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyHe stuck something in it's blow hole and killed it! Arrest him! LOL! No, really. All things die at some point. Can't we just believe it was trying to beach itself because it was at the end of it's life and checked out? Nooo. We have to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars and get to the bottom of this! Pah-leeze.
December 19 2012 at 8:38 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply