Injured sperm whale dies

[Officials towed the sperm whale to shore after it was euthanized. After two boats pulled the whale into shallow waters, it brought to shore by a backhoe. Lara Cerri | Times]

An injured sperm whale seen off the coast of Pinellas County on Sunday was euthanized this morning, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission said today.

On Monday, marine biologists monitoring the wounded mammal said they had made the decision to euthanize the animal after its breathing became labored in shallow water.

- Abhi Raghunathan, Times staff writer