Gulf oil spill environmental impact: First dead sperm whale found in Gulf of Mexico, cause of death?

Oil collects on the water's surface near Deepwater Horizon oil spill site in the Gulf of Mexico.

AP Photo/Dave Martin

June 17, 2010 - On Tuesday, the NOAA Ship Pisces discovered and reported a dead sperm whale 150 miles south of Pascagoula, Miss. and 77 miles due south of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill site. The 25-foot whale was decomposed and thought to have been dead for several days, possibly more than a week. Sperm whales are listed as an endangered species.

Reports of wildlife impacted by the oil that continues to flow into the Gulf come in every single day, but what is happening deep down in the ocean waters is less visible and harder to verify.

It may be impossible to confirm if the cause of death is related to the oil spill, but skin swabs for oil, plus samples of skin and blubber will be analyzed. Although it was not found in oiled water, NOAA marine mammal experts are using a form of analysis called hindcasting to see if they can discover the location from which the whale carcass may have come.

There have been many reports of sperm whales seen swimming in the oil, but this is the first confirmed report of a dead whale since the BP oil spill began.

Included in the statement is this interesting information about the impact of dispersants on the marine habitats of the Gulf, "NOAA remains concerned about sperm whales, which are the only endangered resident cetaceans in the upper Gulf of Mexico. Sperm whales spend most of their time in the upper Gulf offshore area, live at depth in areas where subsurface dispersants and oil are present, and feed on deepwater squid, which may also be impacted by the oil and dispersants."

To learn more about the endangered sperm whale, visit NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources. 

More oil spill impacts to wildlife in the Gulf:

Gulf oil spill environmental impact: Wildlife update on sea turtles, turtle rescue (pictures, video)

Gulf oil spill environmental impact: Louisiana ibis, terns, barriers, diving in oil (video, photos)

Gulf oil spill: New wildlife pictures, terns, gulls, pelicans, a turtle, a fish, lucky birds video

Gulf oil spill impact pictures: Cat Island brown pelican chicks, struggle for birds on Grand Isle

Gulf oil spill: Environmental impact, East Grand Terre Island, brown pelicans struggle (pictures)

Gulf oil spill: Environmental impact in pictures, the plight of Queen Bess Island, brown pelicans

Gulf oil spill: What's at risk? Breton National Wildlife Refuge, Teddy Roosevelt visits (video)

More oil spill news: 

Gulf oil spill: Alabama beaches hit hard, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach (pictures, videos)

Gulf oil spill: NOAA ship to study underwater oil plume, Cousteau says it's a nightmare (video)

 To see one coral reef area at risk in the Gulf of Mexico:

Gulf oil spill disaster: BP update, oil spill flow counter and a look beneath Gulf waters (video)

Get an underwater view of what's polluting the Gulf now:

Gulf oil spill: NOAA ship to study underwater oil plume, Cousteau says it's a nightmare (video)

Info source: NOAA and the Deepwater Horizon Unified Command