PYGMY SPERM WHALE FOUND BY HARBOR BRANCH STRANDING TEAM FORT PIERCE, FLA., March 13 Ð An adult pygmy sperm whale that beached itself north of the Sebastian Inlet late Sunday is being monitored at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota after being rescued by the Marine Mammal Stranding Team at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution. The whale was discovered shortly before 7pm Sunday, March 12, and the Dolphin Ambulance from Harbor Branch arrived on scene shortly after 8pm. The pygmy sperm whale was hoisted into the ambulance by 8:30pm, and arrived at Mote at midnight. The site of the stranding was on the beach in the area of the 6300 block of A1A. Steve McCulloch, Director of the Dolphin Research Program at Harbor Branch Oceanographic, said the decision was made to transport the pygmy sperm whale to Sarasota instead of the recently-opened center at Harbor Branch because of the whale's weight and length of more than 10 feet. McCulloch called the whale's condition "grave", and said it seemed to be suffering the same symptoms as the pygmy sperm whale that beached itself near Stuart on Feb. 18th. "The whale is suffering from severe dehydration and a heavy parasitical load, an abnormally high number of parasites in the stomach and digestive track. We don't expect it to do well," McCulloch said. In addition, the whale seemed to have an irregular heartbeat, and initial tests indicated it was having trouble digesting food or taking in water. The whale was immediately administered antibiotics upon arrival at Mote Marine, and will be monitored around the clock. For further updates, call the News Media Update Hotline at Harbor Branch Oceanographic, at (772) 465-2400, ext. 687. Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, Inc. is one of the world's leading nonprofit oceanographic research organizations dedicated to the exploration of the earth's oceans, estuaries and coastal regions for the benefit of mankind. Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, Inc. is one of the world's leading nonprofit oceanographic research organizations dedicated to the exploration of the earth's oceans, estuaries and coastal regions for the benefit of mankind.