SeaWorld Orlando is caring for a rare, critically ill whale that beached itself off the west coast of Florida.

  • Critically ill pygmy killer whale at SeaWorld rehab facility
  • Female whale beached itself, was trapped on oyster bed, SeaWorld says
  • Pygmy killer whales are rarely seen in shallow waters

The 7-foot female pygmy killer whale arrived at SeaWorld's rescue facility Tuesday afternoon weighing about 255 pounds, the company said. It appeared to have struggled through a jagged oyster bed and was beached for some time in the mid-day heat, exposing it to the sun for a prolonged period and resulting in dehydration.

Veterinarians have been administering fluids and antibiotics. The whale arrived at SeaWorld with a zinc-oxide coating on its skin to help protect it from more sun exposure, the company said.

“The animal is in guarded condition at this time,” Jon Peterson, an assistant curator of animal care for SeaWorld Orlando, said in a statement. “When an animal comes into our care this critical, the first 48 hours are crucial, and we take every measure to stabilize the animal. We remain cautiously optimistic at this time for improvement.”

Pygmy killer whales are extremely rare to find in shallow waters near the coast and even rarer to see beached and in need of rescuing, according to SeaWorld. They're typically found in deep waters in groups of 10 to 30. They share similar physical characteristics of a killer whale.