The baby sperm whale -- the first of its kind to be washed ashore in Hong Kong waters -- was separated from its mother by the strong winds and choppy waters of Typhoon Koni blowing off the coast of southern China, ATV World reported.

The baby whale, which was believed to be female, was 10 metres (33 feet) long and weighed 10 tonnes, it added.

Officials from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department tried desperately to free the whale by digging a hole underneath it and pushing it back into deeper waters.

However, efforts to upright the animal and allow it to swim out to sea failed and officials opted to end its life in the most painless manner possible by giving it a lethal injection, the report said.

There are some 360,000 sperm whales around the world and they can stay under water for long periods of time where they feed on octopus and squid at depths of 3000 meters or more.

The International Whaling Commission has banned whaling of these animals since 1982.

TERRA.WIRE