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Sperm whale dies on Belgian beach

Tue Feb 7, 2012 7:51 PM EST
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Associated Press
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<p>People walk by the tail fin of a stranded sperm whale in Heist, Belgium on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2012. The 13 meter (45 foot) sperm whale beached itself in the early hours of the morning. It was not immediately know what happened to the whale to cause the beaching. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)</p>

People walk by the tail fin of a stranded sperm whale in Heist, Belgium on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2012. The 13 meter (45 foot) sperm whale beached itself in the early hours of the morning. It was not immediately know what happened to the whale to cause the beaching. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

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HEIST — An injured sperm whale has drifted ashore on the Belgian coast and died before it could be rescued.

The whale was likely making a seasonal migration and ended up in the North Sea by accident. It measured 13 meters (45 feet) and weighed some 30 tons.

Jan Haelters of the Natural Science Institute tells the VRT network that "it is treacherous out here for sperm whales since the North Sea is not deep enough."

Despite the freezing cold on the windy beach, it soon was an attraction for local schools and tourists.

The whale drifted ashore early Wednesday still alive but scientists were unable to treat its injuries.

© 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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