Rare nine foot pygmy sperm whale washes up on California beach with a bullet hole in its carcass - prompting federal agents to investigate its death

Federal authorities are investigtaing after a rare pygmy sperm whale washed up on a California beach with a bullet hole.

Jim Serpa, former Doheny State Beach supervisor, was sent the photos of the pygmy sperm whale by his lifeguard pal, Todd Shanklin, who was on duty at the San Onofre State Beach.

Serpa was amazed by the nine-ft discovery that was made on Friday, May 15.  

'Todd said he looked at the head, and it kind of reminded him of a sperm whale only different,' Serpa explained to the OC Register. 

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Jim Serpa, former Doheny State Beach supervisor, was sent the photos of the pygmy sperm whale by his lifeguard pal, Todd Shanklin. He had never seen the whale alive but knew immediately what it was 

'But when I saw the big bulbous head, the tiny dorsal fin way back on its back and the dagger teeth, I knew exactly what it was. It also had an odd blowhole that's farther up than any other whale and slightly off-center. As I walked up to it, I knew my ID from the first photos was correct.'   

Pygmy sperm whales enjoy temperate and tropical seas across the globe and are hard to distinguish from other dwarf sperm whales. 

They are considered rare by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and are most endangered by fish net entanglement.

Serpa has never seen one of the mammals in person and alive. The creatures usually eat squid, using their pointy teeth to devour their treats. 

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The creatures usually eat squid, using their pointy teeth to devour their treats

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When Serpa inspected the compact body and its wrinkled brown to blue-gray back, he noticed what appeared to be a bullet hole

Shanklin took samples of the whale and notified the NOAA of its presence. The whale's carcass will be examined by the federal agency. 

All marine mammals are protected under the Marine Protection Act, which prevents decline below a specific threshold set by the NOAA. 

Serpa did notice that there did appear to be a bullet hole on the whale.  

Serpa has never seen a live pygmy sperm whale. They typically eat squid and use their long, pointy teeth to keep them captured as they devour them.

Shanklin notified officials at NOAA of the whale and took samples from it. Officials from the federal agency plan to examine the carcass this week. All marine mammals are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act. 

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Lifeguard Todd Shanklin was on duty at the San Onofre State Beach (pictured) when he made the discovery of the whale on May 15.

This protects species from declines that would reduce their populations below specific thresholds set by NOAA.

When Serpa inspected the compact body and its wrinkled brown to blue-gray back, he noticed what appeared to be a bullet hole.

'I don't know if it was pre-or post-mortem,' he said.

It is unknown how the whale wound up on the beach.  

'Scientists say the Pacific is super warm right now, so maybe it just came up here in a warm patch,' Serpa said. 'Or, maybe they are here more than we know, and we don't see them because they shy away from us. 

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