NEED TO KNOW
Key Takeaways
A 40-foot sei whale was found dead near Long Island and later washed ashore on a New York City beach
Experts are conducting a necropsy to investigate the death and potential links to East Coast marine mammal deaths
Whales, dolphins and porpoises are protected by law, and the public is urged to maintain a 150-foot distance
A massive whale that washed ashore on a New York City beach is drawing renewed attention to a recent cluster of marine mammal deaths along the East Coast.
According to a statement shared on Facebook from the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society (AMSEAS) on Thursday, March 26, the sei whale had first been identified on March 24, when an aerial survey team reported a carcass drifting roughly 15 miles south of Long Island.
On March 26, AMSEAS confirmed it was the same whale, estimated to be roughly 40 feet. “AMSEAS is currently working with local authorities at [the] New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, and NOAA Fisheries New England/Mid-Atlantic to secure and monitor the animal,” read the post.
A beached whale lying on a Rockaway Beach in New York beach near the ocean under a cloudy sky
Credit: NYSDEC
The statement noted that the rescue team is coordinating a necropsy examination, scheduled for Friday, March 27. AMSEAS also highlighted that whales, dolphins and porpoises are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which forbids the wild animals from being touched, fed or harmed and can result in legal disciplinary actions.
“The best way to assist these animals, and keep them and yourself safe, is by calling trained responders and maintaining a 150-foot distance,” noted the post. “It is important to remember that whales in the surf are still dangerous, even when deceased.”
For now, researchers are focused on documenting the whale and gathering data that could help explain the death — and whether it may be connected to broader environmental patterns affecting marine life along the East Coast.
The East Coast isn’t the only region experiencing intense whale situations. In the Baltic Sea, near northern Germany, a whale is currently trapped on a sandbar.
According to The Guardian, a humpback whale that is currently stranded in shallow waters along Germany’s Baltic Sea coast is in worsening conditions as rescue teams continue working to free it.
The young whale, first spotted earlier this week, remains stuck near Timmendorfer Strand despite multiple attempts to guide it back into deeper water using boats and other methods. Rescuers have tried repositioning the whale and creating waves to help it swim free, but those efforts have been unsuccessful, and officials say pulling the animal could cause serious injury.
Specialists believe the whale may have strayed into the Baltic Sea, which is outside its typical habitat, making escape more difficult.
Read the original article on People