Officials said a dead whale washed ashore in New Jersey was hit by a ship, but it was still unclear how the massive mammal died.
Per the Marine Mammal Stranding Center based in Brigantine, a humpback whale reportedly washed up in Manasquan along the Jersey Shore on Monday.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration carried out an autopsy and informed the results on Wednesday, reflecting evidence that highlighted how a vessel, at some point, had struck the whale.
Specialists will see if the 35-foot female was hit before or after it lost its life. NOAA has mentioned that six humpbacks have washed up along the Jersey Shore since 1 December 2022.
In January 2023, a humpback whale reportedly washed ashore on a beach in New York after it was most likely killed by a vessel, NOAA officials mentioned.
In that case, a male called Luna was over 40 years old and had been tracked by marine biologists for decades, per NOAA.
The whale was found at Lido Beach West Town Park and had to be hauled up with a crane to the beach.
References: NBC New York, APP