NOAA crews respond to endangered sperm whale found dead on Kauai beach

LIHUE (HawaiiNewsNow) – Lydgate Beach on Kauai was closed Saturday due to a beached whale that washed up on shore.

Officials say the cause of death of the whale that appeared on the reef at Kauai’s Lydgate Park, won’t likely be determined for some time.

“We hope we have the opportunity to examine it and determine if fish interaction may have played a role, or vessel strike or disease that caused death,” said Kristi West of the University of Hawaii’s Health and Stranding Lab.

Crews used a large excavator and two other machines today in an attempt to free the 60-ton animal from the shoreline.

Once the carcass is on dry ground, the investigation into its death will begin.

NOAA fisheries and native hawaiian practitioners were in attendance to watch yesterday’s activities.

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