On Florida's Treasure Coast, reports of a large whale that appeared to be suffering close to the shoreline at Herman's Bay on Saturday drew the response from the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute in Fort Pierce. Responders found the 26.5-foot-long, 18,000-pound juvenile male sperm whale drifting slowly in the surf, followed the animal and prepared for it to reach the beach. When the whale came ashore, it was "extremely emaciated" and had some rope around its lower jaw. By the time veterinarians arrived, the animal had died. A further inspection of the whale found more rope in its esophagus and stomach. An investigation is underway to determine if that killed the animal.