Watch a Beached Pygmy Sperm Whale Break Free

Pygmy Sperm Whale Behavior

The toothed whales known as pygmy sperm whales get their name from the waxy substance called spermaceti that is found inside of their heads. An oil bag called the spermaceti aids the whales in focusing their sounds. Pygmy sperm whales, like squid, can secrete a dark, ink-like liquid that aids in their ability to flee from predators. 

Watch the Video to See the Pygmy Sperm Whale’s Struggle:

All around the world, pygmy sperm whales can be found in tropical and temperate waters. It is quite challenging to tell the two species apart in the field since they resemble dwarf sperm whales so closely. Due to a lack of information, both species are thought to be rare, and little is known about them.

During a seemingly normal day at the beach, people spotted what they assumed was a shark attacking a dolphin. The footage shows a single animal trashing around and a reddish liquid spreading through the water. 

While it’s understandable to think that a shark attack is happening, it’s not what is occurring in this video. Interestingly enough, what these people are witnessing is a pygmy sperm whale that’s so frightened, it’s releasing ink that looks similar to blood. 

Although they occasionally migrate in small pods of up to eight other whales, pygmy sperm whales are primarily solitary animals that prefer to move alone or in small groups. They are a very quiet species that seldom ever draw attention to themselves, rising softly and barely breaking the surface of the water. 

Because the cause is unknown, it’s probable that their inactivity and quietness reduce the possibility of predators spotting them and attacking them. They tend to keep their space rather than engage when there are ships and/or boats nearby. 

A Rare Sighting

They can typically be seen floating stationary at the water’s surface or swimming extremely slowly. What these beachgoers witnessed that day is incredibly rare and filming it gave people from all around the world a chance to to see one of these beautiful creatures. 

This isn’t the first time a pygmy sperm whale has come close to beaching itself. In fact, this little guy is lucky he managed to get to safety again, swimming off into the ocean. There was a pygmy whale that appeared on the shores of Brooklyn, New York.

After several attempts to push it back into the water, the sea creature kept coming back to shore. A single, live animal beaches most frequently due to illness or injury. Beachings can also be caused by poor weather, aging, poor navigation, and hunting too near the shore.

Several whale and dolphin species are more likely to beach in large numbers. The most often impacted species are toothed whales (Odontoceti). When a whale is stranded on the beach and unable to swim, rescuers work to keep it alive by excavating a trench around it, easing the weight of its body, and using wet towels to keep the whale’s skin cool and damp.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Rich Carey/Shutterstock.com