The
Bluffton Blufft n Sun May 20, 2025 • Volume 28, Issue 10 • Complimentary • BlufftonSun.com
Town Council Gives Initial Approval to $95.2M Bluffton Budget for Fiscal Year 2026 6A
Rare sperm whale stranding on Hilton Head sparks public interest By Sasha Sweeney Editor
In a rare and somber event, a juvenile sperm whale stranded along South Forest Beach on Hilton Head Island on May 3rd, 2025, drawing marine biologists and federal agencies and the attention of crowds of onlookers. Local marine biologist Amber Kuehn, who responds to marine mammal strandings under a Letter of Authorization from the Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network (LMMN), was among the first responders. Typically, Kuehn is called to recover deceased marine mammals, recording location data, identifying the species, taking measurements and collecting tissue samples. These samples are frozen and transported to NOAA headquarters in Charleston for further analysis. Burial is handled by Shore Beach Services staff. This case, however, was different. The whale was still alive when the call came in—a 30-foot juvenile male sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), the only living member of its genus and the largest species of toothed whale. Sperm whales are rarely seen near shore, preferring deep waters where they dive as much as 8,000 feet to hunt giant squid and are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act. Kuehn arrived on the beach about an hour before sunset and encountered a growing crowd alongside vehicles from the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Town of Hilton Head Island Code Enforcement, and local lifeguard supervisors. She verified both the whale’s species and its condition. “With 20 years of experience on this beach, I am familiar with the reaction of visitors to spectacles, but social media sent them in droves,” Kuehn said. It was requested that she stay through the night
New mural by Amiri Farris to 22A celebrate the spirit of Bluffton
facebook.com/lowcountrymarinemammalnetwork
to help manage the situation and ensure the animal and the public remained safe. On May 4th, federal officials from NOAA Fisheries and partnering agencies arrived on-site. After assessing the animal’s condition, they determined the whale was too emaciated to survive and made the decision to humanely euthanize it. A veterinarian administered the procedure using specialized equipment according to NOAA Fisheries. A full necropsy was completed on May 5th. Initial physical observations noted the whale was emaciated and very skinny. Samples were sent to NOAA and a final report with results from the lab work will be shared with local biologists. Afterward, the remains were buried on-site. The tissue samples and biological data collected during the necropsy will contribute to broader research on sperm whale health and marine ecosystem stressors. Sperm whale strandings are rare in South Carolina, making this case especially significant for scientists and conservationists. For the many onlookers, this event will
be one not easily forgotten. “The reactions to this incident ranged from tears to academic inquiries,” Kuehn said. “I think that this reflects the diversity of personalities and the awe that the sea invokes for coastal residents and visitors to the beach.” Officials encourage the public to report future marine mammal strandings to the Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network and to always maintain a safe distance. For more information on marine mammal response and conservation efforts, visit www.lmmn.org.
Education Briefs
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As plane as the May
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