The 45ft long sperm whale was found stranded on a beach in Pegwell Bay, off the Kent coast, yesterday.
The juvenile male had not eaten for some time and had become dehydrated, a preliminary post-mortem examination found.
© Philip ToscanoTragic: A Kent Coastguard and a police officer next to the dead body of a sperm whale, showing the scale of the 45ft-long mammal at Pegwell Bay in Kent
Rob Deaville, project manager of the CSIP, said: 'Preliminary results from the post-mortem examination indicate that the whale had not fed for a long time, suggesting it had become dehydrated, which most likely played a role in its live stranding.
'Further tests will now be carried out to determine the full picture'.
The mammal was spotted at yesterday morning and although rescuers were called it later died.
Whale beachings are rarely explained. Scientists attribute them to natural and environmental factors such as rough weather, weakness due to old age, hunting too close to shore and navigation errors.
© Maritime & Coasrguard Agency/PA WireGrim discovery: The huge whale was found dead early yesterday morning on the Kent coast
A Kent Police spokeswoman said an officer was on the scene and authorities were also liaising with experts at London's Natural History Museum, who may be called in to take samples of the sperm whale's jawbone.
Like dolphins, sperm whales can carry tuberculosis and lung disease and so the public would be well advised to stay away from the corpse.
Incidences of whales of this size washing up on the Kent coast are rare, a Kent Coastguard spokesman confirmed.
© Paul McMullanFailed attempt: Animal experts waited for low tide to try and rescue the whale which sadly died
© Mike GunnillWashed up: The sperm whale was discovered dead on the beach at Pegwell Bay near Ramsgate
peace, brother/sister, into the arms of the Goddess. Awen.