SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y. (PIX11) – A dead humpback whale washed ashore on a Long Island beach on Thursday, according to a Facebook post by the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society.
Officials reported that the female whale, which measured approximately 38 feet, washed up in Napeague, N.Y., showing no visible signs of trauma.
“The animal was in an advanced state of decomposition when it washed ashore,” read a social media post by AMSEAS. “Many internal organs were missing, and those that were still present were decomposed. Samples were collected from the reproductive tract, blubber, skin, and bone fragments and will be sent for further analysis.”
Fractures were noted on the whale's skull, but it is believed these occurred after the creature had died. According to the post, the whale was buried on site as per NOAA Fisheries' best practices.
AMSEAS noted marine animals often become stranded for various reasons, and a specific cause of death cannot be determined in many cases.
Other details were not immediately clear.
PIX11 News contacted the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, but they could not be reached for comment.
To report sightings of sick, injured, entangled, or deceased whales, dolphins, seals, and sea turtles, please reach out to the New York State Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Stranding Hotline at (631)-369-9829.
Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here.
