PYGMY SPERM WHALE STRANDS ITSELF NEAR NEW SMYRNA BEACH FORT PIERCE, FLA., March 15 - An adult pygmy sperm whale was found early today by beachgoers in the New Smyrna Beach area, struggling and alive on the sand, and apparently suffering from the same symptoms as two other sperm whales that have beached themselves recently. This latest stranding comes only three days after another adult pygmy sperm whale beached itself north of the Sebastian Inlet. That whale died one day later. The Marine Mammal Stranding team and the Dolphin Ambulance from Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution responded to the latest beaching shortly after 8am, and was expected to arrive on scene by approximately 11am. Dolphin Program Director Steve McCulloch said this latest stranding is troubling, because it indicates a virus or other condition that is affecting a stock population of pygmy sperm whales off Florida's east coast. The whale that beached itself late Sunday, March 12, was transported to Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, and died one day later. The pygmy sperm whale that beached itself near Stuart on February 18 was also transported to Mote Marine Laboratory in the Dolphin Ambulance. It died two days later. In both previous cases, the whales were found to be suffering from gastric ulcers, gastric stasis, dehydration, emaciation, stomach parasites, fluid in the lungs, high liver and kidney enzyme levels, and a low white blood cell count. 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.