A 25-foot whale that was likely struck and killed by a vessel was found washed up on the shore of the Rockaways Friday morning.
The feminine minke whale that suffered “several broken bones and cut wounds across its body” was spotted at 9 a.m. near Beach twenty ninth Street, based on the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society.
“There was additional evidence of blunt force trauma,” the group said, indicating the mammal likely died after being struck by a ship or other vessel.
Heartbreaking images of the whale show not less than three deep slashes running from its backside to its belly.
Minke deaths have been increasing along the Atlantic coast since 2017, with not less than 141 found dead inside those years, prompting the NOAA to declare an Unusual Mortality Event.
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The minke whale is the second whale to clean up within the Rockaways since December.
In the sooner case, a baby whale was still alive when it washed up on the neighborhood’s beach late last yr, but died after rescuers were unable to push it back into the water.
About two weeks ago, a 40-year-old humpback whale named Luna washed up on the shores of Long Beach. The 14.5-ton leviathan — that was tracked by scientists for many years — was also killed by a vessel while attempting to breach the surface.
A 25-foot whale that was likely struck and killed by a vessel was found washed up on the shore of the Rockaways Friday morning.
The feminine minke whale that suffered “several broken bones and cut wounds across its body” was spotted at 9 a.m. near Beach twenty ninth Street, based on the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society.
“There was additional evidence of blunt force trauma,” the group said, indicating the mammal likely died after being struck by a ship or other vessel.
Heartbreaking images of the whale show not less than three deep slashes running from its backside to its belly.
Minke deaths have been increasing along the Atlantic coast since 2017, with not less than 141 found dead inside those years, prompting the NOAA to declare an Unusual Mortality Event.
Commercial
Commercial
The minke whale is the second whale to clean up within the Rockaways since December.
In the sooner case, a baby whale was still alive when it washed up on the neighborhood’s beach late last yr, but died after rescuers were unable to push it back into the water.
About two weeks ago, a 40-year-old humpback whale named Luna washed up on the shores of Long Beach. The 14.5-ton leviathan — that was tracked by scientists for many years — was also killed by a vessel while attempting to breach the surface.
