Bent Whale May Suffer From Scoliosis (PHOTO)

HONOLULU (AP) — Whale experts believe a sick whale spotted off Kauai this week may be suffering from scoliosis or curvature of the spine.

It's a rare disorder but scientists say they have seen it in other marine mammals like dolphins.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's marine mammal response coordinator, David Schofield, says officials are confident the whale was either born with the condition or acquired it over the course of its life.

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Friday Schofield ruled out a boat collision, saying it's not plausible an animal hit by a boat would have retained the shape of such an injury.

A flight instructor on Kauai spotted the white, emaciated whale with a severely deformed spine on Monday. He said the 50 foot whale "appeared to be bent in half."

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Information from: Honolulu Star-Advertiser, http://www.staradvertiser.com

Comments

[Momklok]

05:11 PM on 02/15/2011

Poor thing, any good whale chiropracters out there?

[climbing panda]

02:48 PM on 02/15/2011

"...was either born with the condition or acquired it over the course of its life." really? what an astute observation. shear genius!

[FalstaffsMind]

05:41 PM on 02/14/2011

I hope they leave the poor creature alone and don't try to 'help' it.

[Amalek]

10:22 AM on 02/14/2011

At least it is bent to the left.

[Lahonda]

06:53 PM on 02/13/2011

Scoliosis... the bane of straight backs.

[RunningBecky]

11:03 AM on 02/13/2011

With all these experts commenting on it, I am assuming here that the possibility that this photos wasn't just the result of light waves being bent out of shape by the water. When looking through moving water, images can become extremely distorted as I'm sure everyone knows. Because thatt is what it looks like to me. Otherwise, that is a sad malformity. Huggs Becky

[Dana1982]

09:37 AM on 02/13/2011

I have no doubt that this was caused by global warming. Global warming is killing off the planets creatures. It's no streach to see that it would cause other illnesses.

[dnb310]

02:52 PM on 02/13/2011

"It's a rare disorder but scientists say they have seen it in other marine mammals like dolphins."

I share you concern about global warming, but, hysteria and speculation do not help the cause, they merely give ammo the deniers.

[Dana1982]

12:09 PM on 02/14/2011

We can't deny that man made global warming is wrecking hevoc on the eco system and there is no evidence to show that global warming doesn't cause these conditions more frequently.

We shouldn't deny the real possibilities of the effects of global warming.

[HBHB]

03:09 PM on 02/13/2011

It's people like you that make every the rest of us sane people look bonkers.

[Dana1982]

12:07 PM on 02/14/2011

How can you prove that it isn't global warming?

[Nancy Erickson Nan]

09:27 AM on 02/13/2011

Very hard for me to look at this magnificent creature so badly hurt by scoliosis or whatever...I just hope the beautiful thing isn't suffering!!!!

[Raccoon1]

08:29 AM on 02/13/2011

".......officials are confident the whale was either born with the condition or acquired it over the course of its life."

Genius.

[CB5]

02:37 PM on 02/13/2011

But everybody says swimming is so good for our bodies...poor little guy. They are beauties aren't they?

[HBHB]

03:10 PM on 02/13/2011

HA! Either way.

[cheo]

04:37 AM on 02/13/2011

If I were a whale I too would be bent out of shape over all the garbage humans have dumped into my home.
I hope the poor animal doesn't suffer. It probably can't keep up with a pod. Makes me wonder how many medical conditions we share with other mammals. Maybe we don't see them very often because they usually don't survive this long?

[mamacat]

03:52 AM on 02/13/2011

I find it fascinating that a 50 foot whale has managed to live its life with curvature of the spine. Many humans suffer from the same condition, for some reason.

[Stefan Bast]

03:43 AM on 02/13/2011

"David Schofield, says officials are confident the whale was either born with the condition or acquired it over the course of its life."

In other words, officials are confident, that the whale actually has a bent spine, but they have no clue, why.

[Chef Dracula]

02:36 AM on 02/13/2011

Poor lil' guy. I wish him the best of life on this lovely planet.

[bb08636]

01:57 AM on 02/13/2011

"Officials are confident the whale was either born with the condition or acquired it over the course of its life." So they're absolutely certain the whale was born like this or got this condition sometime since being born. How did they figure that one out? I think what they mean to say is, "we really have no idea when this happened to this whale."

[Chef Dracula]

02:31 AM on 02/13/2011

This is a fine piece of journalistic achievement!! Don't question the AOL!!

[libertyhonorUSA]

01:57 AM on 02/13/2011

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's marine mammal response coordinator, David Schofield, says officials are confident the whale was either born with the condition or acquired it over the course of its life.

REALLY! I would think that would be the only TWO ways to get it. During the course of its life! REALLY! Come on be a little more intelligent than that. And this is the same group that supports global warming. If this is their intelligence level then HOLY CRAP we are in trouble.

[oxjr]

04:38 AM on 02/13/2011

some one supports global warming? I am pretty sure no one wants it to happen.