The Latest: Whale calf found dead in Hawaii mass stranding

HONOLULU (AP) — The Latest on whales stranded on a beach in Hawaii (all times local):

4:20 p.m.

Authorities say one whale calf has been found dead on a beach on the Hawaii island of Maui near where 10 other whales were found stranded alive.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Regional Marine Mammal Response Coordinator David Schofield said Thursday the calf was found about a mile north of the other melon-headed whales.

He says the calf is believed to be part of the same social grouping as the whales found alive.

Veterinarians euthanized four of the whales after determining they were in grave condition and nothing more could be done to save them.

The other six whales were refloated to the ocean. Schofield says the six came back ashore but eventually made it out to deeper water.

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12:05 p.m.

Authorities have euthanized four small whales after 10 of the animals were stranded on a Maui beach. Two others might also be euthanized.

Officials said Thursday that veterinarians determined four of the stranded whales were in grave condition and nothing more could be done to save them.

Jeffrey Walters of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says the animals were made comfortable with a sedative and then humanely relieved of their suffering.

The other six whales were refloated to the ocean, but two of them were soon stranded again.

Walters says the prognosis for these two isn't good and they will likely be euthanized.

NOAA and University of Hawaii scientists will examine the whales to determine what caused the stranding.

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10:50 a.m.

Officials say ten small whales are stranded alive on a beach on the Hawaii island of Maui.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Wildlife Management and Conservation Branch Chief Jeffrey Walters said in a statement Thursday that they are believed to be melon-headed whales.

The agency says NOAA veterinarians and University of Hawaii scientists are determining the best type of care for the whales on Sugar Beach in the community of Kihei.

Native Hawaiian cultural practitioner Kealoha Pisciotta says the whales are a manifestation of the sea god Kanaloa.

She and others want to float the whales so they can swim away or die dignified deaths.

She says NOAA officials won't let them near the whales.

NOAA didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on her complaint.