Rescuers examine a beached dwarf sperm whale on Wednesday night in Sanya, South China’s Hainan province. Photo: Courtesy of Hinews.cn

Tourists discovered the beached mammal near Sanya’s Jiaotou port around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. Photo: Courtesy of Public Security Department of Hainan Province

A rescuer pours water on the stranded whale, which was more than 3 meters long and weighed more than 250 kilograms (552 pounds). Photo: Courtesy of Hinews.cn

Rescuers examine the whale’s tail. They found that the animal had suffered multiple injuries, either from hitting a reef or getting bitten by a shark, according to local media reports. Photo: Courtesy of Haichang Ocean Park

Volunteers treat the whale Thursday at the Haichang Marine Biology Conservation Center in Sanya. Photo: VCG

Volunteers hold up the whale’s head to keep water out of its blowhole. Photo: VCG

Volunteers replace the floats on the whale. Despite the treatment, the whale died around 11 p.m. on Thursday. Photo: VCG