Dale Lynch, the assistant harbor master on Cuttyhunk, said the whale was found alive on the south side of the island, straight across from the Gay Head Cliffs, by a walker. He, in turn, contacted federal officials and IFAW, and the whale later died.

A sperm whale stranded on Cuttyhunk Island over the weekend, adding to alarming whale death toll since December. Here's what we know.

A whale washed ashore on Cuttyhunk Island Monday. Officials from the International Fund for Animal Welfare confirmed it was a female sperm whale. The whale is an estimated 32-feet long and 22,000lbs.