Investigation into 42-foot sperm whale death near Charleston plans to continue: LMMN

CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCIV) — The Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network said Monday it plans to continue its investigation into the death of a 42-foot sperm whale near Charleston.

The whale was found stranded on a sand bar on Feb. 21 by an aerial flight crew with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, which alerted the Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network. Crews responded to the finding on Feb. 22.

"We plan to continue to examine this animal to help determine the reasons why this animal stranded," a post on the Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network's Facebook page reads. "We will look at samples collected to further understand other factors that may have contributed to the stranding, but we may not ever have a definitive answer."

Read more: "Dead sperm whale discovered near Charleston: LMMN."

Sperm whales are the largest of the toothed whales.

They are found in all deep oceans, spanning the Antarctic, article and equator.

They dive to depths of over 10,000 feet for more than one hour.

Male sperm whales reach maturity around 50 years and when they are around 52 feet long.