LA JOLLA — A baby sperm whale came ashore at Torrey Pines State Beach late in the evening on Sunday, Dec. 12, occupying a team of rescuers from Sea World until the early morning hours. According to Sea World, a private citizen alerted law enforcement late Sunday night that a whale had washed up. Shortly thereafter, around 9:30 p.m., a group of about 20 rescuers, trainers and veterinarians from the Sea World Animal Rehabilitation Program arrived at the beach near the San Diego La Jolla Underwater Park. Dave Koontz, director of communications for Sea World, said rescuers were initially concerned with determining whether the animal was sick and was trying to beach, or if it had just lost its way. The waves, according to the rescuers, were strong and Koontz said the whale was having difficulty pushing itself out on its own. Veterinarians injected the whale, estimated to be about six months old, with antibiotics and steroids to help increase its strength and stamina. Then, slightly before midnight, the team began efforts to push the whale, which weighed about 3,000 pounds, back out to sea. Rescuers said the whale, thought to be a male, was very cooperative and energetic, and after they had pushed it about a quarter of a mile from the shoreline, it started to swim on its own. “It made a decision on its own to swim away, which is a very good sign,” said Koontz. “That’s something that would be indicative of an animal that found itself too close the beach and got itself trapped by the surf versus an animal that was sick and just washed ashore.” Sperm whales live in all the waters of the world, but tend to stay in deeper water. Koontz said Sunday’s incident was an exceptionally rare one. “It’s very unusual for us,” he said. “Some of our rescue team members who have been here for 25 years said that this was the first time they could remember coming to the aid of a live sperm whale.” Animal rescuers will keep an eye out for the whale, with the hope that it found its way back to its mother. The Sea World Animal Rehabilitation Program rescues, treats and releases stranded animals. Koontz said the goal of the program is to return animals to the wild. “Our primary focus through our rescue program is to help the animal, whether it’s an animal we are able to help on the beach or an animal that is brought into our facilities for care,” he said. “Ultimately, we want to then get it back out into its natural environment.”