'Something I have never seen before': Pygmy sperm whale found dead in South Padre Island

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A South Padre Island resident and Cameron County Beach Patrolman made a disturbing discovery while returning from a fishing trip. Gene Gore, a fisherman, came across a dead pygmy sperm whale washed up on the shore.

“As a fisherman, I instantly saw what was the cause of death. It had perfectly squared markings along its body, and to me, that is indicative of a gill net, poachers,” Gore said.

He explained that he initially thought it was a small dolphin, but quickly realized it was a species he had never seen before.

“I was driving on the beach, north of the island, and I saw what I thought was a small dolphin washed up, so I stopped to check it out, and when I walked up to it, it was definitely not a dolphin," Gore said. "It was something I have never seen before.”

Gore, worried the animal would be scavenged by coyotes or other wildlife, decided to load the four-foot whale into his truck and take it to the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley's Coastal Studies Lab the following day. Based on his experience, he believes the whale was caught in an illegal fishing net.

“They are perfectly square and maybe three inches in diameter, and several of them along its body, and at the intersection of the squares, there were little wounds as well," he added. "Probably, from one of the nots of the net tie, so it appeared to me that it had been caught in a gill net and drowned.”

The Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network says the cause of death is still under investigation, and testing is underway. This marks the 41st documented pygmy sperm whale stranding in Texas since 1980, and the fifth in the South Padre Island area.

The organization notes that human activities frequently contribute to these incidents in a post on social media, “Human-related factors like pollution, vessel strikes, ocean noise, ingestion of debris, or entanglement may also contribute.”

Similar events have been reported just across the border in Playa Bagdad, where marine scientists are seeing an increase in stranded marine animals. There, fishermen have been caught using dolphins as bait for shark fishing, with 23 dead dolphins found onshore in the past week alone.

Dolphins are the most commonly stranded marine animal in the region, followed by sperm whales. Marine veterinarian Elias Ibarra says many of the causes are tied to human behavior.

“We have spotted shrimp boats fishing very close to the Texas shores, along the coast of Boca Chica, and with these nets, they don’t just catch shrimp but also other species—dolphins, turtles, and even whales like this one," Ibarra said.

Ibarra warns that the loss of top predators could have a major impact on marine ecosystems.

“Without having top predators like dolphins, the marine ecosystem could suddenly collapse, and that’s why their preservation is so important," Ibarra added.

Gore says he has witnessed illegal fishing firsthand and wants more enforcement on the water.

“I have witnessed it with my own eyes off Boca Chica Beach," Gore said. "In my boat, I saw a panga pulling in a long line, and they were loading every fish in the seat, turtles, dolphins, sharks, and you name it. Every single thing they could load the boat in, and I witnessed that from a safe distance and then called the Coast Guard after that.”

It may be some time before a final cause of death is confirmed for the whale. UTRGV’s Coastal Studies Lab has not yet responded to requests for comment.