Federal authorities are searching for an off the Florida coast hours before the animal was found dead. Witnesses along Pompano Beach said the animal appeared to be on its last legs and drifting toward the shore when a swimmer began climbing onto the creature鈥檚 back. Though the whale鈥檚 exact cause of death is still unknown, it is a federal offense to badger a marine mammal. 鈥淭his type of harassment could have caused more harm and added stress to an already stressed whale and ultimately caused its demise,鈥 said NOAA regional stranding coordinator Blair Mase.
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