A male humpback whale has reportedly washed ashore on Nassau County’s Lido Beach.
The massive mammal spans 35 feet in length and weighs around several ton. It apparently washed ashore over Sunday night and was dead by the time crews arrived on Monday.
According to Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin, it was the first time a whale had washed ashore in four years, he told News 12.
Upon first inspection, the whale showed no apparent signs of trauma. However, a team of marine biologists will perform a necropsy to determine the final cause of death.
Pulling it up shore was no easy feat explained Clavin. “The lines were snapping so much weight because it was buried a little deep there, so it was hard to get it done,” he said.
According to ABC 7, this marks the 10th whale to wash ashore on an Atlantic Ocean beach in the past two months.
Last night, the enormous sea creature was left overnight on the beach in the watchful eye of a security guard. Today, the necropsy will take place in the sand and last anywhere from three to four hours. Following the necropsy, the humpback will be buried somewhere on Lido Beach, reports News 12.
“This is a sad day down on the South Shore, this is something you don’t want to see,” Clavin says.