In this May 30, 2012 photo released by the Puntacana Ecological Foundation, a diver works on a coral reef restoration program in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, live coral coverage in the Caribbean is down to an average of just 8 percent, from 50 percent in the 1970s. Caribbean islands ranging from Bonaire to the U.S. Virgin Islands, conservationists are rearing and planting fast-growing coral species to try and turn things around by “seeding” reefs. (AP Photo/Puntacana Ecological Foundation, Victor Manuel Galvan)
Stranded melon-headed whale dies on Trinidad beach
Published: 03:33:42 PM, Fri 15 March 2013 UTC
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (AP) — A rarely sighted melon-headed whale has beached itself and died on the eastern coast of the Caribbean island of Trinidad.
Forestry officials told reporters they tried to take the young whale out to sea several times but it kept returning to shore.
The whale was spotted on Manzanilla beach late Thursday and died early Friday. A necropsy is planned.
Melon-headed whales live deep in tropical waters and feed largely on squid. They can grow to nearly 10 feet (3 meters) long and live up to 30 years.
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