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© NOAA
Tests are being done to figure out what killed a whale that was found floating off Pearl Harbor Wednesday morning.

The whale was seen in the West Loch area.

Marine officials say it was a 12-foot-long adult pygmy sperm whale.

It weighed between 800 and 1,000 pounds.

"The cause of death is likely not going to be determined. The whale carcass was unfortunately very decomposed, but they will look at what is remaining of the whale and try to determine a cause of death," said NOAA Regional Marine Mammal Health and Response Manager David Schofield.

Officials say pygmy sperm whales are hard to study at sea because they stay far away from boats.