Advertisement Dead whale washes ashore on Grand Isle beach Share Shares Copy Link Copy

This is definitely something you do not see every day.Christopher LeCoq, with Paradise Louisiana, sent WDSU two photos and a video of a dead sperm whale that apparently washed ashore on the Grand Isle barrier island over the weekend.LeCoq doesn't believe the whale has been dead for long and estimates it's about 27 feet long. He said he was on the island covering the Ride the Bull kayak tournament when he heard the news of the whale.LeCoq said he quickly went out to find the whale, and take photos and video. He said the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries was notified.LeCoq said in an update Saturday evening that biologists believe the whale was a juvenile female, possible 6-7 years old. He said officials have not identified the cause of death, but are taking samples of different organs and glands to send to a lab.Biologists on the island said people should report these incidents to the National Marine Stranding Hotline to abide by the law and to not harass any living animals or disturb carcasses for safety reasons.One official with the National Marine Stranding Hotline in Louisiana said the whale carcass was moved off the beach by Grand Isle officials and buried elsewhere.The official said it's not common for whales to be close to shore, which is an indication there was something medically wrong with the whale.Check out the incredible photos and video from LeCoq. Click here for more information about Paradise Louisiana.Keep up with local news, weather and current events with the WDSU app here. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news right in your inbox. Click here to sign up!