Hours after three whales were euthanized when scientists determined they were too sick to be saved, the body of a rare, melon headed whale washes ashore on South Hutchinson Island.

According to Steven McCullough, executive director of marine mammal research and conservation at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, the latest whale was discovered at about 11 p.m. Wednesday.

That same morning, another whale, believed to be from the same pod, washed ashore in Vero Beach.

All of the deceased whales so far have been about 7 to 9 feet long, with a thin malnourished appearance. Necropsies later showed the animals had ulcers in their stomachs, a sign of stress, and had not eaten for weeks.